Head Gasket - Opinions Please...

[tractive-effort]

So, following on from my cooling system problem - today the van has had a new radiator, water pump and pressure cap on the header tank fitted to eliminate those as a possible source of the fault. This though has not rectified the problem, though it is perhaps slightly improved. After a while the temperature still rises to the centre of the gauge and then falls back into the white section, after a while the process will repeat and the gauge will go a little higher each time. All of the heater matrix etc (though the system easily by-passes this if blocked) has been thoroughly flushed along with the rest of the system.

One thing that was noticed was the immense pressure that builds in the cooling system (much more than it should be apparently) . Turn the engine off and release the pressure from the cap (vast pressure and even makes the top hose expand slightly), do up the cap again and start the engine for only a few seconds and the pressure is immense again. Therefore, the only thing it can be is compression pressure from the engine pressurizing the coolant system over and above what it would normally be. This can mean head gasket or a cracked block and the head will be taken off tomorrow and inspected/new gasket etc. What bugs me though is the fact that (according to my Ford mechanic friend doing the work) the Di engine is not known for such problems having a cast iron head – so has anyone else had this type of trouble and do you think the head gasket is the likely scenario?? Any opinions gratefully received!!

[FredTransit]

Don't talk to me about head gaskets! Going up the M1 yesterday, Alex got a bit hot. Head gasket gone big time. Bah!!!

[Nighthawk]

The pressure cap should regulate coolant system pressure at around 1.3bar.

are the fan blades fitted correctly?

[tractive-effort]

The pressure cap should regulate coolant system pressure at around 1.3bar.

are the fan blades fitted correctly?

Hmmm- the problem is not in the cap or the fan , believe me!

[rover]

Head gaskets are a relatively common fault , the early Di's suffered more from head cracking than the later ones but were still quite rare, I think your mechanic will find that the gasket has gone, probably at the back end.

Rover.

[MarkM]

The pressure cap should regulate coolant system pressure at around 1.3bar.

are the fan blades fitted correctly?

Hmmm- the problem is not in the cap or the fan , believe me!

This was what I was hinting at on your other thread, Red fans have the blades in the opposite direction to the Yellow ones, both can be fixed to the same viscous unit. If you have the white version fitted the same can apply as it (the engine) might be supposed to have one of the other colours on it...one is the same as the white one but which that is I don't know.....Nighthawk?

[tractive-effort]

Well, it's defo not the fan, after the state of the head gasket I saw today and the quality of the job undertaken by a previous 'owner'!!! But, for the record, my fan is the enclosed white version and the viscous coupling is working fine. Plenty of resistance at low RPM, and as it turns faster, less and less etc..

But the issue here is the head gasket and the way in which it was changed by some fly-by-night, 3-striper in the past!! Whatever the reason for changing the gasket previously, I have no time for the type of scrotes who don't use gen Ford components on such a critical part and then to cap it all do the head bolts up hand tight. That's it!! Not even torqued to the right settings, let alone use the proper 1,2,3 sequence etc - the head bolts would have come out using a normal size ring spanner!! Unbelievable.......rant over!!

[MarkM]

Well, it's defo not the fan, after the state of the head gasket I saw today and the quality of the job undertaken by a previous 'owner'!!! But, for the record, my fan is the enclosed white version and the viscous coupling is working fine. Plenty of resistance at low RPM, and as it turns faster, less and less etc..

But the issue here is the head gasket and the way in which it was changed by some fly-by-night, 3-striper in the past!! Whatever the reason for changing the gasket previously, I have no time for the type of scrotes who don't use gen Ford components on such a critical part and then to cap it all do the head bolts up hand tight. That's it!! Not even torqued to the right settings, let alone use the proper 1,2,3 sequence etc - the head bolts would have come out using a normal size ring spanner!! Unbelievable.......rant over!!

Ok I was just making sure, by the sound of it you will have it all working great very soon, at least you have checked all the other items that could also contribute to the problem. I also assume that your engine was filthy as the leaks would have been more apparent on a clean engine.

Just a thought you are now going to do a full oil change as with the headgasket in the state you have described I would hate to think where all the water and oil was actually going.

[tractive-effort]

Ahh, yes Mr. M, you would think so wouldn't you - but the funny thing is the exterior of the engine was/is dry! There were never any palpable leaks externally and no starting problems, misfires, water in oil etc, etc and all the usual things associated with a head gasket problem. Strange indeed!!

The only thing was the erratic temperature readings at high revs (hence a new rad and system flush) and then of course the immense amount of pressure in the cooling system after the engine running (from cold) after only a few seconds. The only reason the gasket went (even though it was a cheap gasket) was the fact the head bolts were not torqued properly. There were a few tracking marks and worn patches across the gasket face, but there was no sign of water in the bores or anything - it simply must have just evaporated due to the escaping compression pressure!!??

And yes mate - oil changed, though it used a lot more than normal over the past few weeks since this problem started.. Many thanks for your help again anyway sir!!

[madmark]

so is the problem now sorted and she is a sweet as a nut???????

[tractive-effort]

As sweet as a bitter taste left in the mouth can be I suppose! But seriously, yes, no noticeable problems on my drive home about two hours ago. Will be driving it very conservatively for at least a 1000 miles..

Total bill with all the uneccessary parts I ended up puting on (rad, temp gauge + sender, water pump, pressure cap - plus of course Head & Inlet manifold gaskets (everything Gen Ford ££) throw in my mates labour charge..........just a tickle over £400 Come to think of it I've still got to put Anti-Freeze and a new stat in it too..

Transits, They Certainly Do Drive You Nutts (and I hate 'em)............................sometimes