FabSwingers.com forum: Any mechanics localish

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

Need some advice on how to do something lol... and maybe a pointer on something..

Not asking you to come do something for me.. so I hope this is within the rules..

basically I need help with using steel seal.. as I need to do the more complicated application and I am unsure on part of the procedure..

Thanks

Cali

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

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

What are you using it on? What sort of repair?

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

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

Its for a bottom end small headgasket issue.. I have fixed cars that are running worse.. but I have a lot of back pressure where the exhaust gases are leaking into the water.. causing it to pressurise and then lose all my water.

Car still runs fine as long as I dont let it get hot and top up the water..

But been told its a specific procedure and a pain in the arse to do it when you have to take the plugs out etc to get it to work right.

Cali

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

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

if your goin to lift the head off, you might as well get it skimmed and finished with.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

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

"if your goin to lift the head off, you might as well get it skimmed and finished with.

I am not.. that is the point of steel seal.. I wont need to do that.. lol

If I was taking the head off I would be doing cambelt change, and waterpump too.. but I don't have that sort of cash just now. So as I have experience of this stuff on other cars..( but not with so much back pressure) I want to use it on my car first.

Cali

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

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

Steel seal is normally used for radiators.... start with a cold engine.. add steel seal and start engine... run it at about 1500rpm until cooling fan starts then leave to cool... job done... hopefully..

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

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

"Steel seal is normally used for radiators.... start with a cold engine.. add steel seal and start engine... run it at about 1500rpm until cooling fan starts then leave to cool... job done... hopefully.."

its for headgasket repair.. actually offers guarenteed repair and thats how you do it without back pressure.. with the problem I have it tells you to take out the plugs one at a time till you find which cylinder is having issues.. Mine is from the bottom end.. and I have exhaust gases getting into my water system.

So it tells you to do it a different way..and I know people that have failed to do it quite right and it not worked. Now I know the kinda repair I have will be fixed by this ... but I need to do it right..

I know I need to stop fuel getting into the bore of the cylinder I dont have the spark going to as well..

Its about 2 hours from start to finish to do this.. but someone must have used it lol

Cali

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *ricky_DickyMan
over a year ago

Mirfield

stopping the fuel going into the cylinder shouldn't be a problem if it's electronic fuel injection just disconnect the electrical lead from the injector. Old fashioned carburettor use the inlet cycle to suck fuel air mix into the cylinder so with the spark plug out it will pull air in the through the plug hole and also a little fuel air mix from the inlet manifold so as the engine is running on 3 cylinders there will be some unburnt fuel air mix expelled through the plug hole on the compression cycle, so best do it in a well ventilated area.

Hope that helps

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

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

its a 1.8i vauxhal zafira if that helps.. I changed the coilpack on it recently and it seems common after the coilpack is changed to get this issue... I can actually drive it sometimes for over an hour and get no problems at all with it..

it is not over heating and is only losing water after quite sometime ( when pressure builds up)

oh and I do know it is head gasket and not water pump as I have done the gas test .. compression is fine..

I will see if I can get it done this weekend.. as its driving me scatty..

To be honest if I had the spare cash ( had just paid for car insurance, and school trip when it happened) I would have just got the full head work done as it needs cambelt doing soon anyway..

if I had the timing gear I would have done the job myself.. its just that if I take the head off I need to do the cambelt regardless..

Cali

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

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

this stuff does effect good repairs but its only ever temporary...you can reduce pressure by removing the thermostat...or taking the middle out....pressures more even then thro the engine as its never shut...it takes longer to warm up so may extend the range before it acts you up...also consider wiring the fan up to run all time when ignitions on...again slowing down warm up and pressure build up. chris x

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

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

"this stuff does effect good repairs but its only ever temporary...you can reduce pressure by removing the thermostat...or taking the middle out....pressures more even then thro the engine as its never shut...it takes longer to warm up so may extend the range before it acts you up...also consider wiring the fan up to run all time when ignitions on...again slowing down warm up and pressure build up. chris x"

Last car we used this on has done 5k miles since... And the pressures just building up with the exhaust gases bubbling into it.. I will just try to follow the instructions.. I'm wishing I had a rover again now.. never had a head problem lol but stripped and rebuilt enough of them track side to be able to do it easy.

Cali

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *arnayguyMan
over a year ago

Durham Tees

"Its for a bottom end .. but I have a lot of back pressure where the exhaust gases are leaking into the water.. causing it to pressurise and then lose all my water. "

My ex had a similar problem. The Doctor put it down to too much rough anal sex. You have to be more gentle.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

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

Cali "

those mods do improve things....but would be considered a bodge up lol. where exactly is there a fracture or gasket failure ? chris x

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

Post new Message to Thread