Blown head seals?
Posted: 25 May 2016, 13:18
Guy's,
Sorry for the long winded post as I think probably know what the answer is but i would like a second opinion.
2.1 DJ engine - Recently i have had to top up the coolant with approx a litre every 200 miles or so as I get the red flashing light but no rise in the temp gauge i.e it sits just below the light. I embarked on a longer journey last weekend and after 20 miles the temp gauge rose to 3/4 and the temp light started to flash. I pulled over and coolant was spewing out of the overflow on the tank behind the number plate. once cooled, I topped it up with about 2 litres of coolant and although it was still probably air locked we headed for home.
The temp sat normal for 6 miles then boiled over again but this time there was a lot of pressure in the system (think of an erupting volcano), it took ages for me to release gently through the dalek cap. I topped up again and it got me home although the temp gauge did rise about a mile from home.
After everything cooled down I filled up the coolant, bled the system through and ran the engine for about an hour. Everything went as it should, engine ran up to temperature, cooling fans kicked in and out as they should and temp gauge sat at 1/4 with no fluctuation so I took it for a 10 mile run. Everything went as normal, checked the coolant level and all fine with some but not a lot of pressure in the system. We then set off again on our our journey and BAM, exactly the same spot as the first time, 20 miles in coming off a junction and it overheated. Went through the same scenario as above but this time I moved the heater slider from cold to hot. Although the low coolant level started to flash half way home,the van got me the 20 miles home this time with absolutely no overheating and little pressure in the cooling system but I think the dalek cap may now be damaged as I can now suck and blow through it.
There is no loss of power or idling issues, no abnormal noises, no obvious water leaks on any of the pipes or around the water jackets even when there was a lot of pressure in the system and I mean a lot, never had any starting problems, no puffs of smoke or steam from the exhaust, no water in the oil /oil in the water and I cant smell any exhaust gas when I take of the cap but I do have a slight misfire which I think is unrelated.
Things that i have checked are - thermostat, took it out and the spring seemed to operate freely, checked for air locks - system was bled correctly with water flowing through the radiator, the top pipe was hot with the lower pipe slightly cooler.
Is this typical behaviour of an exhaust gas leak within one of the heads? or am i missing something obvious? I'm going to try and arrange for a CO sniff test next week.
Sorry for the long winded post as I think probably know what the answer is but i would like a second opinion.
2.1 DJ engine - Recently i have had to top up the coolant with approx a litre every 200 miles or so as I get the red flashing light but no rise in the temp gauge i.e it sits just below the light. I embarked on a longer journey last weekend and after 20 miles the temp gauge rose to 3/4 and the temp light started to flash. I pulled over and coolant was spewing out of the overflow on the tank behind the number plate. once cooled, I topped it up with about 2 litres of coolant and although it was still probably air locked we headed for home.
The temp sat normal for 6 miles then boiled over again but this time there was a lot of pressure in the system (think of an erupting volcano), it took ages for me to release gently through the dalek cap. I topped up again and it got me home although the temp gauge did rise about a mile from home.
After everything cooled down I filled up the coolant, bled the system through and ran the engine for about an hour. Everything went as it should, engine ran up to temperature, cooling fans kicked in and out as they should and temp gauge sat at 1/4 with no fluctuation so I took it for a 10 mile run. Everything went as normal, checked the coolant level and all fine with some but not a lot of pressure in the system. We then set off again on our our journey and BAM, exactly the same spot as the first time, 20 miles in coming off a junction and it overheated. Went through the same scenario as above but this time I moved the heater slider from cold to hot. Although the low coolant level started to flash half way home,the van got me the 20 miles home this time with absolutely no overheating and little pressure in the cooling system but I think the dalek cap may now be damaged as I can now suck and blow through it.
There is no loss of power or idling issues, no abnormal noises, no obvious water leaks on any of the pipes or around the water jackets even when there was a lot of pressure in the system and I mean a lot, never had any starting problems, no puffs of smoke or steam from the exhaust, no water in the oil /oil in the water and I cant smell any exhaust gas when I take of the cap but I do have a slight misfire which I think is unrelated.
Things that i have checked are - thermostat, took it out and the spring seemed to operate freely, checked for air locks - system was bled correctly with water flowing through the radiator, the top pipe was hot with the lower pipe slightly cooler.
Is this typical behaviour of an exhaust gas leak within one of the heads? or am i missing something obvious? I'm going to try and arrange for a CO sniff test next week.