Sprint headgasket - Now VXG project thread (pic heavy)

[triple tango]

yes, theres a lot of good reading on here

[miniman]

I am really surprised that a "best of the forum" is not in the mag anyway.

That's a great idea, I would certainly be up for compiling something for each issue if there's interest?

[Lewis]

Something's been bugging me a bit today, so any input is appreciated.

Basically, it runs a treat (barring some minor tuning that's needed). No oil in the coolant and vica versa, not pressurising or overflowing the header tank (even after running for an hour and some hard driving then idling for ages), there's no leaks and it pulls hard. No ominous bubbling or foaming either.

However, despite all of this, the exhaust is what I'd classify as 'quite cloudy'. Not billowing but think along the lines of a cold morning start - white vapour.....I guess, due to the weather, it could just be the fact it's five degrees and an old engine.

Suspect the only way to find out will be to run it more to see if it uses enough coolant to start overheating - but I would have thought it'd be displaying other symptoms though!

Anything I could of missed there?

[DF]

I would say its just condensation,

[xvivalve]

My Father had a Montego for a few years; I changed the head gasket on that in error due to condensation!

[Jod Clark]

If its been chucking water down the cylinders due to the knackered head gasket I'd expect there to be a litre in each of the silencers, so the hotter the zorst gets the more steam will come out until its all boiled away.

[Lewis]

If its been chucking water down the cylinders due to the knackered head gasket I'd expect there to be a litre in each of the silencers, so the hotter the zorst gets the more steam will come out until its all boiled away.

Hey, I hadn't thought of that! Thanks for the heads up

It has been failing for some time, did considerable mileage as was - and the exhaust was always very 'wet' so that may well be it. Been sitting for a long while in damp, rainy conditions too. Never helps....

[straylight]

a wet exhaust is a good exhaust. When the fuel burns (properly) it makes H2O (and CO2). The H2O is in gas form, a vapour, when it hits the cold outside air it condenses into fine droplets which resemble a cloud and will leave condensation on your hand if you place it over the exhaust.

sorry for the science lesson, but it souinds like, with the temp over in the UK at 5 degrees, the car is running really well. You'd expect lots of condensation from the fuel burning process.

stu

[xvivalve]

Petrol produces 10 times its own weight in water when it burns to be exact...which is why painting the outside of your exhaust is unlikely to make it last any longer!

[newguy]

I think i have a nackered head gasket or something.

I have oil leaking out of the top of the head. Only very slight.
But i had a bubbling gasket the whole way down the top of the head and block where the HG is.
Has anyone else had this?
There is no water in the oil or oil in the water or pressure in the Water hoses.
I carn't put my finger on what is wrong.
I had this problem with my last build but a new gasket seem to solve the problem though it wasn't blown or anything.

Something seems really odd.

This can't just be a lone case?

[Mad Mart]

Have you torqued the head down recently ie. approx. 500 miles after the rebuild? 58 lb ft or what ever that is in Nm. Edit: 78.6 Nm

[newguy]

Yup i did after about 500 miles have checked them since but they were fine.
Mine are at 58Lb
I don;t think there is any need to rip the head off just yet?
I will try take the other head of another block tomorrow and get it crack tested and checked for hardness etc.
i will then go from there?????

Has any one had this sort of seepage?

[Jon Tilson]

A bit of lateral thinking here...
It isnt the head gasket...
You have a coolant leak from the inlet manifold to head joint. It runs down under the manifold and is blown back along the head to block joint by the fan...

Replace the manifold gasket...check faces for flatness, check the bypas tube and its o-rings and try again...


Jonners

[newguy]

A bit of lateral thinking here...
It isnt the head gasket...
You have a coolant leak from the inlet manifold to head joint. It runs down under the manifold and is blown back along the head to block joint by the fan...

Replace the manifold gasket...check faces for flatness, check the bypas tube and its o-rings and try again...


Jonners

Thats what i thought
What Would it make it bubble?

[Jon Tilson]

Just the hot coolant boiling on the hot head

Jonners