FabSwingers.com forum: Car trouble- srious question...

By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

So my two go to people when I have car trouble aren't available and thought I would ask on here.

Does anyone know a bit about cars please- mine is using alarming amounts of water.... etc... would like to PM any mechanics, thanks xx

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

cars shouldnt use water, see where you are loosing it from,check oil filler for oil and water mix, look under car for leaks.

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By *DSRMan
over a year ago

leicester

"So my two go to people when I have car trouble aren't available and thought I would ask on here.

Does anyone know a bit about cars please- mine is using alarming amounts of water.... etc... would like to PM any mechanics, thanks xx"

I know very little.. but have you looked for any leaks? underneath it? Sounds obvious but it's the obvious things we often forget to check!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Yeah sounds like your head gasket has gone if you cant see any leaks few ways to tell start the car and give it a rev get someone to look at the exhaust if there is lots of white smoke your burning water, car might sound rough like it has a slight misfire, turn heaters on full if they arent getting hot just staying warm, oil in the water turns it to the colour of caramel and its lumpy o and the car temp going above half way

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

could threre be a hole in the pipe ... you looked to see when its standing theres no water on the ground ??

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Yes I had a new head kit on it a few weeks ago- water hasn't got oil in, oil level is fine, heaters are heating, but had to put several litres in earlier in the week and just looked and it was nearly empty- took the lid off and it came bubbling up into the resevior, then drained right back down, so topped it up again... just gonna look and see if its still there.

No leaks under the car, already looked...

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Yes I had a new head kit on it a few weeks ago- water hasn't got oil in, oil level is fine, heaters are heating, but had to put several litres in earlier in the week and just looked and it was nearly empty- took the lid off and it came bubbling up into the resevior, then drained right back down, so topped it up again... just gonna look and see if its still there.

No leaks under the car, already looked...

Is this the first time you have checked the water level since it was done?

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Water level hasn't changed since I put it in about an hour ago and just started it up and there is no smoke, not even white, which is normal.

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By *illyCouple
over a year ago

Coventry

Sounds like your going back to the garage.

If it bubbled up then went down its sounds like head issues. The bubbling is air escaping then its replced by water so the level goes down. I wouldn't use the car if poss.you may end up doing more damge .

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

No leaks under the car, already looked...

Is this the first time you have checked the water level since it was done?"

No the first week I checked it daily and was fine.

Then checked it Two weeks ago and fine- then last Monday and no water in reservoir so topped it up ( about two litres).

Then again today...

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By *edditchcpl69Couple
over a year ago

REDDITCH

if your sure the oil and water are not mixing then it sounds more like an air lock.

what car is it and engine size, will have a look on autodata for you and see if there is a bleed nipple on the water system anywhere

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Water level hasn't changed since I put it in about an hour ago and just started it up and there is no smoke, not even white, which is normal."

Ok dont panic sounds to me like there was some air in the system from when you had the head gasket done, the water system is pressurised so the bubbling is normal when you open it

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

head gasket is leaking water into cylinders,they need pressure tested to determine properly.proplem will only get worse.return car to people who did repair.

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By *uro anchorMan
over a year ago

Coventry

if u had head gasket changed recently u could of had an air lock int the water system.. so might be ok now..

just keep an eye on it for a few days..

couldnt pm u im too old lol...

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

an air-lock for 3 weeks i dont think so............

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

I think I'm gonna call the garage first thing tomorrow and have a little chat!

I would rather waste their time getting it checked than blow it again... thanks for all the advice and PM's folks.... FAB community in full working order xx

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

good call !

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By *uro anchorMan
over a year ago

Coventry

"an air-lock for 3 weeks i dont think so............"

mmmmmm depends how often the car is driven...

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"an air-lock for 3 weeks i dont think so............"

She did say a week ago she had to top up a few litres and has just had to top up again air could have been released over the first 2 weeks topped up and air was trapped again i have seen it on some cars before

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By *illyCouple
over a year ago

Coventry

"I think I'm gonna call the garage first thing tomorrow and have a little chat!

I would rather waste their time getting it checked than blow it again... thanks for all the advice and PM's folks.... FAB community in full working order xx"

I wonder how much response a single male would have got

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

i know what my money is on....if only the head gasket was done the head is probably damaged due to being cooked.if no external signs of leaks and no mayonaise in the oil my money is on water getting into cylinders.

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By *ittle_brat_evie!!Woman
over a year ago

evesham

mayonaise????

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I would have replied to anyone asking, yes i agree but if there is no water coming from the exhaust i dont see it happening

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By *uro anchorMan
over a year ago

Coventry

"mayonaise????"

nice in prawn cocktail sauce or wit salad....

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

at the moment it is not losing a lot of water so how would it show,in any case my car which if fine,leaks condensate water from the exhaust on start up.only sure test is a pressure test on cylinders.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Sell the bloody thing!!

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By *edditchcpl69Couple
over a year ago

REDDITCH

do you know if the head was skimmed when it was off the car ??? the normal procedure for any car having the head gasket done is to at least get the head checked, and if in any doubt get it skimmed.

if the head was skimmed and all new head kit was used along with new bolts(you will be suprised how many try using the same bolts) then it should only be an air lock.

you really do need to speak to whoever did the job in the first place and get them to confirm what they actually did.

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Holy crap, I got mayonnaise!

Which means the water has emusified in the oil, I presume?

Just what I needed.......

And as for getting rid of it- only had it since August so not really an option!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Could be a cracked head if they havent bothered skimming or preassure testing the head

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

They are reputable and friends of the family that own the garage and he is an engineer by trade.

They used the new improved kit for the head and did say that the replacement would be better than the original, due to the design fault on the original, which is why this particular engine is notorious for this problem...

Shame I didn't know that before I bought it hey!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

i know its a funny question but have u checked the radiator?as thats the first place i wud look.when ur out in the car does the temp go up?x

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Its actually the water pump thats the problem i've heard, chinese have solved the problem apparently, all i can say is its got to be the head if they have done everything as some small cracks can open under the heat produced by the engine and cause the signs of a failed head gasket

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

probably need a new head and gasket set,when they strip it they should see the problem,if not i hope the engine block may be cracked. worse case scenario.....recon engine,sorry

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

If the car has had a recent head gasket it could just need re-torquing.

It used to be normal procedure to re-torque the head bolts after a week or so.

If you didn't have water in the oil, a new radiator cap could solve your problem.

Take it back to the garage. Engine repairs should carry at least a three month guarantee.

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By *oftyladnloftyladyCouple
over a year ago

worcester

what does the temperature gauge read when driving. a faulty rad cap can lead to evaporation under pressure when hot and reseal as the pressure drops lower.

any garage should purge the system of air before returning the car to the customer it is all part of the job only a slight top up may be needed in a few days.

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By *adchickCouple
over a year ago

Cyprus

Jason says......

Cracked head or cracked block (bore liners in the block)

The head should have been crack tested and skimmed when the head was fitted. This should have been done when the car was warm.

Take it to the garage immediately. If they didn't crack test the head, they will have to replace it.

You should have the head check and skimmed itemised on the bill.

Jason asks what the car is....

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By *adchickCouple
over a year ago

Cyprus

"Holy crap, I got mayonnaise!

Which means the water has emusified in the oil, I presume?

Just what I needed.......

And as for getting rid of it- only had it since August so not really an option!"

Sorry, didn't see this before.

Your Head gasket/block is cracked or the head has gone again......... as in the work may not have been done properly.

You really need to check your original invoice.

Did he ask you if you wanted the head skimming and testing, because if you said no...... the onus is on you.

If you did, then it's up to him to go back to the machine shop and they will have to replace it.

A machine shop with full milling machines should be the only people who skim and pressure test it......... if it's a mechanic without the correct machinery, you are screwed.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Could be many things, bad refitting of a water hose, faulty water pump the plastic impeller becomes disconected from the steel shaft, i know VW have problems with pourous cylinder heads, usually requires a new head fitting

faulty head gasket/fitting or a faulty seal somewhere on the car maybe misdiagnosis when you took the car to the garage?

Think you need to call them and ask them what they want to do?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

[Removed by poster at 13/11/11 22:12:21]

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Thanks for all the feedback folks will be on the phone to the garage at 9am!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Thanks for all the feedback folks will be on the phone to the garage at 9am!"

when you ring them have a note pad and pencil and take notes of time, who you spoke with etc and if you can get a copy of your receipt before you take it back, just in case things go pear shaped and you need them

Good luck

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By *horleytwoCouple
over a year ago

chorley

Im guessing this is a Rover K series? Its a engine I've done a lot of work on.

Is it a 1.4 or 1.8? The 1.8 is prone to cracked piston liners as they are very thin.

Did it overheat and how hot did it get? The big problem with these units is if they get very hot the steel piston liner sinks into the ally block, most garages don't seem to understand the head sits on the liners, not the block.

The new style head gasket is very unforgiving of incorrect piston liner hight, as a general rule of thumb if its got hot enough to melt the inner cambelt cover then the block is shot.

Now were did I put my gagool and train spotting guide? lol

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Update, garage had the car to look at and the tiny amount of mayonnaise is from condensation, its the thermostat or the radiator cap thats causing it to use water, so unrelated to the previous issue.

Thanks to everyone on here I could ask if the bolts were replaced, they were, the head was skimmed, it was, etc so this was really helpful xx

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Sometimes its the little things...

A mates old British bike was playing up over the weekend.....much head scratching, and casting of aspertions...

It turned out to be a pinhole in the oil tank cap, was blocked..creating a problem with pressure in the motor...really silly..there tis..

Glad it was a pleasant result fer you OP...its a worry I know..

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By *irtydanMan
over a year ago

Blackpool

"I think I'm gonna call the garage first thing tomorrow and have a little chat!

I would rather waste their time getting it checked than blow it again... thanks for all the advice and PM's folks.... FAB community in full working order xx"
i bet its a rover ?

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By *irtydanMan
over a year ago

Blackpool

"Im guessing this is a Rover K series? Its a engine I've done a lot of work on.

Is it a 1.4 or 1.8? The 1.8 is prone to cracked piston liners as they are very thin.

The new style head gasket is very unforgiving of incorrect piston liner hight, as a general rule of thumb if its got hot enough to melt the inner cambelt cover then the block is shot.

Now were did I put my gagool and train spotting guide? lol"
you know your stuff

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