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        General >> Problems >> Is this my cylinder head gasket blown?
        
(Message started by: Mike_Floutier on May 2^nd, 2008, 7:12pm)

Title: Is this my cylinder head gasket blown?
Post by Mike_Floutier on May 2^nd, 2008, 7:12pm

Hi,

Listen to these symptoms and tell me what you think:

1. Vibration (engine shaking) when idling, increases under load, becomes fairly faint when cruising at 50/60mph with little load (ie highish revs/low load).

2. 2nd Cylinder (from back) hardly providing any power output. - ie. Remove it's gas injector lead and the difference is almost unnoticable. (Whereas if you remove any of the others the engine nearly stops). NB same problem on gas or petrol.

3. Both oil and water appear to be going down slowly.

4. Strong smell of exhaust gases coming into cabin when stopped - at lights etc.

5. Faint appearance of smoke under bonnet when idling.

I've been grappling with a vibration in this area for a few weeks. Had thought it was the propshaft vibration damper (donut) - that may still be an issue - but this new vibration, which is much worse (and came on very suddenly) happens when not moving so I'm guessing that it is a small hole in the cylinder head gasket near to the No. 2 cylinder.

a. What do you think and,
b. How can I be sure it's that and,
c. What should I do bearing in mind the car has just passed 300,000 miles??

Thanks for any ideas.

Mike

Title: Re: Is this my cylinder head gasket blown?
Post by ChrisF on May 2^nd, 2008, 11:02pm

Well first if the gasket has gone they tend to give froth in the water with a whitish deposit around the filler cap. It sounds more like a valve on no2, has at last after 300k, gone and died. Either way you've got to have the head of and thus a new gaket is required.

4 and 5 could be the same problem and come back to the same thing, 300k. But in saying that I had a Granny that did 500k before it eventualy expired. And that was in taxying.

Title: Re: Is this my cylinder head gasket blown?
Post by Mike_Floutier on May 3^rd, 2008, 8:26am

Thanks Chris,

I want to test the non-working cylinder's compression this morning. Does anyone know what the pressure should be - I looked at the specifications sheet but it was blank for "compression pressure". The 2.9 spec is 14bar but I guess I need to know what it should be for my 2.3.

Does anyone have an idea? Also, assuming it's a blown valve or head gasket, any idea what it would cost to fix?

Thanks.

Mike

Title: Re: Is this my cylinder head gasket blown?
Post by tintin on May 3^rd, 2008, 8:50am

hi,
i had very similar symptoms on my cossie, turned out to be a blown spark plug (i had just put a new set in, one must have been faulty). try swapping a plug to see if the problem moves. re compression, just check its the same as the others ;)
mine has been diagnosed with h/g three times, it never was, the other times were bust radiator and blocked cat.
hope this gives you some hope :D

Title: Re: Is this my cylinder head gasket blown?
Post by TiberiuS on May 3^rd, 2008, 11:15am

Mike, ditto with tintin, when they test for failed rings or liners it's just whether they all measure within 10% of each other, if one cylinder is like 25% down you know you've got a problem. IIRC just pull all plugs and fuel pump relay, full throttle and crank for each cylinder. I guess take the readins then report back and see if someone can tell you whether they're low or what. 300k is quite a bit of mileage though, I think I get where you're coming from.

Was the EGR another issue or..?

Regards, Bruce :)

Title: Re: Is this my cylinder head gasket blown?
Post by Mike_Floutier on May 3^rd, 2008, 1:57pm

Ok guys well it's good news but a bit of a long story; will try and keep it short,

I guessed I had to rule in/out compression to start with so I bought a tester from Halfords (£18 - incl adaptor for both types of plug!). I also bought a pair of HT leads as these have been a problem in the past.

I tested the non-working cylinder against the others and it was the same (14-16bar). Things are looking up - I thought.

Next I put a known ok plug in the non-working cylinder but it was just the same - no power. Next I tried the new HT lead but again no joy.

It was at this stage that I considered the coil pack and ruled it out - a) because I had already changed it previously and (more importantly, I thought - lol) that only one cylinder was affected and the coil powers two cylinders.

At this stage I gave up. I had already phoned the garage and they were happy to look at it so off I toddled.

Now you may think that this next bit should be in the "any other business" section but I'll take the risk anyway - you only live once "what can man/moderator do to me"?"

Anyway, as I said, I was halfway to the garage when God whispered in my ear "Coil pack" - did I tell you I'm a Christian; if you want to know more let me know and I'll post some stuff on the "other business bit".

Anyway "Coil pack". Well, since I'm a bit of a "know it all" my response was, "it can't be the coil pack, it's only one cylinder". But God seemed pretty certain so in the end I turned round and headed home, after all....

So I got home and swapped the coil packs around and what do you know, the "non-working cylinder" moved house from No. 2 to No. 4. Thank You Lord!!

So anyway, now it's fine.

Thanks for being here for me. I would never attempt any of these fixes without knowing I could ask you guys for help; it's great. Muchas gracias!

Mike

Title: Re: Is this my cylinder head gasket blown?
Post by Octavian_P on May 3^rd, 2008, 6:02pm

I love happy endings ! I'm glad that it's sorted ! Happy motoring ;D

Title: Re: Is this my cylinder head gasket blown?
Post by gozz on May 3^rd, 2008, 9:26pm

Mike.
Fancy God knowing about Scorps,and here am I thinking he only knows about donkeys ! :-[
GOZZ.

Title: Re: Is this my cylinder head gasket blown?
Post by sector-9 on May 4^th, 2008, 10:20pm

Come on, if Jesus had rode into Jerusalem on a Scorpio He'd never have made it in time for the passover... Maybe that's why he had 12 disciples - in case He needed a push! ;D

Seriously though, proof that God isn't aloof but does actually care, just like He says.

Darren

Title: Re: Is this my cylinder head gasket blown?
Post by Mike_Floutier on May 5^th, 2008, 10:56am

Yes that's right! In case you want to know more "but are afraid to ask" check out:

1. God TV - Sky channels 760 & 761,

2. http://uk.god.tv/ , or

3. http://www.freshfire.ca/.

There is loads of great stuff on God TV but I'd specially recommend looking at Todd Bentley/Florida Healing Revival. It's on from 7pm to 11pm each night and repeated during the day (I think at 12:30).

My wife and I watched this and my wife got healed of a serious back problem.

Moderators sorry about this appearing in this section. Please feel free to transfer it to "any other business" as I know that loads of people are going to be interested.

Thanks

Mike