1.8T engine cured!!

[DMGRS]

It's definitely worth bearing in mind that some simple, easy to replace parts can cause minor coolant leaks - and sometimes the fix is cheaper than a bottle of K Seal.

Off the top of my head:
- Coolant Cap O Rings
- Inlet Manifold Gasket
- Hose joints (check for coolant staining around joints)
- Pinprick holes in hoses

I've had all of these in the past on my cars - always worth a quick check before adding anything.

[MOTORMANIA007]

Hiya guys,

I have over the last three months did the following and I am still stumped

Head gasket replaced with MLS gasket
Water pump replaced
All hoses taken off and cleaned out

After the above was done at a considerable cost, I am still having overheating engine and water/coolant loss so as a last resort a friend (self taught mechanic) suggested steel seal so we purchased a bottle from halfords and followed instructions and when we were running it for the 45 mins to get it all up to temperature the water/steel seal just pressurised the engine and basically bubbled out if expansion bottle and top hose to the rad.

It now only allows me to drive for about 3 miles and then I get a slight plume of grey like smoke out of the exhaust and if I stop and open the engine bay the water is bubbling out of the expansion bottle (with cap on) ans the top rad hose again.

Any ideas cause I am stumped my fear is that the head gasket has failed again but this time into the combustion chamber and the combined combustion gases are forcing the water back up out of the expansion bottle and top rad hose, is there any way I can check to confirm this or do I just have to take to a garage and pay again to have the head done again.

I love this car but I an at my wits end as to whether this is all worth it.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

[planenut]

Originally Posted by MOTORMANIA007

and basically bubbled out if expansion bottle and top hose to the rad.

It now only allows me to drive for about 3 miles and then I get a slight plume of grey like smoke out of the exhaust and if I stop and open the engine bay the water is bubbling out of the expansion bottle (with cap on) ans the top rad hose again.

Any ideas cause I am stumped my fear is that the head gasket has failed again but this time into the combustion chamber and the combined combustion gases are forcing the water back up out of the expansion bottle and top rad hose, is there any way I can check to confirm this or do I just have to take to a garage and pay again to have the head done again.

Not meant to be rude, but are you filling only to the "MAX" mark, which is virtually on the bottom of the tank?

When you say "It now only allows me to drive for about 3 miles", what actually stops you driving further, or is is that after 3 miles coolant blows out of the expansion tank?

[murphyv310]

Originally Posted by MOTORMANIA007

Hiya guys,

I have over the last three months did the following and I am still stumped

Head gasket replaced with MLS gasket
Water pump replaced
All hoses taken off and cleaned out

After the above was done at a considerable cost, I am still having overheating engine and water/coolant loss so as a last resort a friend (self taught mechanic) suggested steel seal so we purchased a bottle from halfords and followed instructions and when we were running it for the 45 mins to get it all up to temperature the water/steel seal just pressurised the engine and basically bubbled out if expansion bottle and top hose to the rad.

It now only allows me to drive for about 3 miles and then I get a slight plume of grey like smoke out of the exhaust and if I stop and open the engine bay the water is bubbling out of the expansion bottle (with cap on) ans the top rad hose again.

Any ideas cause I am stumped my fear is that the head gasket has failed again but this time into the combustion chamber and the combined combustion gases are forcing the water back up out of the expansion bottle and top rad hose, is there any way I can check to confirm this or do I just have to take to a garage and pay again to have the head done again.

I love this car but I an at my wits end as to whether this is all worth it.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Hi.
Additives don't cure anything TBH.
Question time.
Have you confirmed the thermostat is ok? Substitution is the best idea.
When you had the head off did you get it pressure tested?
Did you get the head skimmed and fit a head saver shim glued to the head with Stag Wellseal?
Did you check the liner heights?
Was it bled as per MGR suggestions?

[Nick Greg]

Originally Posted by murphyv310

Hi.
Additives don't cure anything TBH.

Agreed, when I had my HG done there was K Seal everywhere and it took mechanic forever to get shut of it, gummed up the water pump everything.
Once the proper procedures had been carried out, HG, pump etc etc, check all hoses etc etc hasn't dripped a dribble.

[T-Cut]

Originally Posted by MOTORMANIA007

I have over the last three months did the following and I am still stumped.
Head gasket replaced with MLS gasket
Water pump replaced
All hoses taken off and cleaned out
After the above was done at a considerable cost, I am still having overheating engine and water/coolant loss

I suspect the work you paid for didn't fix the problem and the HGF symptoms persist. Better to go back under warranty than take drastic unilateral action with chemical sealers. The original warranty may well have become void under the circumstances.

I'd say you're probably back to square one.

TC

[HenryD]

Originally Posted by MOTORMANIA007

Hiya guys,

I have over the last three months did the following and I am still stumped

Head gasket replaced with MLS gasket
Water pump replaced
All hoses taken off and cleaned out

After the above was done at a considerable cost, I am still having overheating engine and water/coolant loss so as a last resort a friend (self taught mechanic) suggested steel seal so we purchased a bottle from halfords and followed instructions and when we were running it for the 45 mins to get it all up to temperature the water/steel seal just pressurised the engine and basically bubbled out if expansion bottle and top hose to the rad.

It now only allows me to drive for about 3 miles and then I get a slight plume of grey like smoke out of the exhaust and if I stop and open the engine bay the water is bubbling out of the expansion bottle (with cap on) ans the top rad hose again.

Any ideas cause I am stumped my fear is that the head gasket has failed again but this time into the combustion chamber and the combined combustion gases are forcing the water back up out of the expansion bottle and top rad hose, is there any way I can check to confirm this or do I just have to take to a garage and pay again to have the head done again.

I love this car but I an at my wits end as to whether this is all worth it.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

This may be your problem,MLS gasket won't hold if liner heights are low,Elastomer much more forgiving in that respect.

[MOTORMANIA007]

To be honest no I did not have the head skimmed or pressure tested as I was going by advice my current general manager as he has worked built these type of engines and he said that cause when the head blew the first time I only drove it for about a mile before I stopped and then it was not driven until the replacement head was installed, as I got it done through work (on the cheap) there is not warranty so I cannot go back on that, however the gen mgr did ask the mechanics that did the job to test for warpage using a engineering straight to chexk all was goos and they said they did and so it was straight, as for the thermostat I have had it replaced twice as we thiught the problem was that the thermostat was not working correctly so they got another new one and changed it, bu that did not cure the problem, as for the liners no I did have them checked so I am at a quandry and feel that I have been led down a garden path without true advice which is very frustrating.

[T-Cut]

Originally Posted by MOTORMANIA007

- - - as for the thermostat I have had it replaced twice as we thought the problem was that the thermostat was not working correctly so they got another new one and changed it, bu that did not cure the problem - - -

Oh hang on. It's an 04 model and may have a PRT. Is that what was replaced? Or did they fit a standard stat near the water pump?

TC

[MOTORMANIA007]

TC, I am not sure what you mean by a PRT but the garage took the cover off the cambelt where the water pump is housed and they said that the centre bolt was not in position correctly and was not tight but they took the old pump off and replaced it with a new one, my other mate when he was checking all the coolant pipes found that the gasket where I think he said the coolant temp sensor was had failed and was sopping wet so he replaced it with a liquid gasket and that is now holding fine, the wierd thind is that all these thungs have happened since the mechanics at work done the head gasket.

So you can understand why I am a little bit pi* *ed off with it