Head Gasket or Cracked Head

[FC0058]

Hi All
Not wanting to know the damage I have done to my car during the return trip from the nationals it was parked and left sit for a while.

Running grey motor converted to run ULP, headers and dizzy overhauled all have done less than 5000 miles. All was running well until we stopped for lunch on the final day of travel:

Observation:

Noted through previous experience that the timing may have moved on later inspection it had self advanced, tried to adjust by ear, runs better however is now fully retarded and still not right.

Noted that I had water in the oil and no oil in the cooling system, from memory this would suggest head gasket not head ?.

The car had been running 10⁰warmer than usual, however put this down to highway driving and pushing the car harder than usual and running stock cooling system. Water pump was replaced when the head was done.

Admission at one point I was sitting on approx 125 kph for about 5 mins and I did overtake a few very long road trains at speed, however generaly we cruised at speeds any where between 90 and 110 Kph.

I need to replace a few gaskets to rectify oil leaks and replace engine mounts so am hoping that it is a head gasket any advice would be great, I am thinking that I will have to take it to the mechanic for my timing issue, however should be able to do the rest of the work myself.

Cheers Jim

Might even take a leaf out of ACE & Johns book and get a Scortcher. 

[graham_fuller]

Hi Jim,
I had similar problem just as I got home. Turned off the engine to unpack outside the garage,when I restarted the car again it wouldn't idle correct. Just as a note my engine was rebuilt just before the nats with just enough time to run the prescribed 500miles and have all adjustments done. Note that when the engine heated up it idled and ran fine, this is a sign that there is water in the cylinders.Once the engine heats up the water disappears and the engine runs normal. After taking the car on another short trip the dip stick and oil filler were covered in imulsified oil.These are deffinate signs that the head gasket has blown. The head has been taken off and yes the gasket was blown. At this stage no-one knows exactly why.I should get the car back this week and hopefully some answers. They have checked the usual things, there is no crack or warping of the head or block and the car didn't overheat as the plastic tag they put on the head had not melted. So still a mystery.Jim maybe your timing is OK and it was water in the cylinder that caused your timing issue.
Cheers,
Graham

[crashbox]

g'day guys

i had something like this happen to me..... good runnin grey..BUT water in oil,mainly in rocker cover,engine was startin to run hotter.....the fault......the welsch plugs behind the side plate had started to corrode,and leak water into oil!......new welsch plugs,side plate gasket,done....no more probs......hope this mite shed sum lite

keep cruzin

[FC0058]

Graham and Crashbox
Thanks for sharing your experiences, I will pull the plugs out one by one and see what I find, the car seems to be firing on all cylinders, if I have to replace gaskets I may as well relace the welsh plugs whilst I am at it.

Cheers Jim

[Angry Wog]

If timing is retarded this can cause overheating and blow head gasket.
Suggest you advance before driving again.
Remove spark plugs after engine reaches operating temperature and crank over and see is water comes out of cylinder/s.
DON'T STAND ALONG SIDE OF SPARK PLUG PORTS WHEN CRANKING.
You can try pulling one spark lead at a time to see if engine changes tune to pin point the cylinder at fault or if gasket is blown at that cylinder.

ANGRYWOG

[FC0058]

ANGRYWOG
Thanks for the tip, I will be doing exactly that tomorrow evening.

Cheers Jim

[Philby]

Hey Jim,

I've also experienced more water in the oil than oil in the water. 

After replacing the head gasket (thinking that was the obvious solution) and hours of trouble shooting because the problem was still there, I was advised to check the welsch plugs and sure enough, just like crashbox, one of the plugs behind the side plate had a small hole from corrosion. Once replace, it's good as gold.

Good luck.

Phil

[EffCee]

Then welch plugs behind the sideplate have caught out many people in the past, myself included.

There are numerous engines, not just the Holden Grey which have welch plugs that can leak directly into the oil. Usually once caught out, one never repeats the mistake. Before pulling the engine down, pressure test the cooling system to ensure that the head gasket is leaking rather than the welch plug. The side plate has to come off anyway (is easier to take the plate off) so essentially there is nothing to lose to ensure that the headgasket is leaking rather than the welch plugs.

[FC0058]

Hi All
Thanks for the tips, I will find time this weekend to have a good look and try and sort the cause of my trouble.

Cheers Jim