Ford Scorpio Forum - Print Page


    
      
        Ford Scorpio Forum
        (https://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl)
      

        General >> Problems >> has my head gasket gone
        
(Message started by: arizona on Jul 30^th, 2006, 10:53pm)

Title: has my head gasket gone
Post by arizona on Jul 30^th, 2006, 10:53pm

i had a problem with my expansion tank boiling over. i tried checking for an air lock by runing the engine wiv the heater set to hot and the cap of the expansion tank. it did nothing the level did not rise or fall and it dident spill out or gurgle. i took the car for its mot on friday. when the mechanic brought back my car he informed me that he could not do the mot. he siad when thay were reving up the engine for the emission test the expansion tank was boiling over and was chucking out water faster than he could get it in. he told me that my head gasket had gone and it would be 450 pounds to fix it and he would have to send the head away for skimming and it would take 3 days. i am confused as if my head gasket has gone why is my oil not emulsioned or any sign of blue smoke from the exshuast and the car still seems to drive ok am i been taken for a ride.

Title: Re: has my head gasket gone
Post by howiedintheplace on Jul 30^th, 2006, 11:01pm

Firstly what engine.
Second it does sound like it but have you just drained & refilled the system or did it just start pressurising one day?
If you have antifreeze in the system you can sometimes smell it from the exhaust or there will be bubbles appearing in your coolant tank on tickover or upon reving the engine if the gaskets gone.
No water in the oil just means that part of the gasket is still good.

Title: Re: has my head gasket gone
Post by arizona on Jul 31^st, 2006, 12:19am

sorry my engine is the 20 litre 16 valve ultima on a m reg. it started to boil over 3 days after i bought it and i hadent touched the cooling system at all. the problem gets worse when i drive up hills. but is getting worse overall. i could never understand why it never over heated or boiled over when i was driving it and only did it when i turned of the engine. the car starts first time and ticks over great no noise or taping and no smoking and drives fine. should this be the case if the head gasket has gone. thankyou.

Title: Re: has my head gasket gone
Post by wellard on Jul 31^st, 2006, 9:18pm

does your car overheat only when you are stationary with the engine ticking over,if so,do the cooling fans cut in and out? if it overheats going along it could be the water pump has failed.it sounds like the first to me as the mot requires the engine to be revved for the emmisions test, if the fans do not work the engine will overheat and chuck the water out the expansion tank.

Title: Re: has my head gasket gone
Post by jonnycab on Jul 31^st, 2006, 11:51pm

Does the temperature guage read normal?

Title: Re: has my head gasket gone
Post by Baw_Flinger on Aug 1^st, 2006, 11:02am

Also, is the top rad hose solid/ballooning? If so, it sounds like HGF :(

Title: Re: has my head gasket gone
Post by arizona on Aug 1^st, 2006, 7:14pm

thanks for all your help guys but allas all in vain my worst fear has happend. in the end i had to take it too a garage and the head gasket has gone. i got a price of 400 might as well be a 1000 right now. so my pride and joy is off the road for a few weeks. :-[ :-[

Title: Re: has my head gasket gone
Post by Baw_Flinger on Aug 2^nd, 2006, 8:54am

Where are you based mate, my local guy (high Wycombe) will do it for £200-£250 + kit based on 4-5 hours labour if that helps.