Alan and Daisy Posted December 2, 2010 Share Posted December 2, 2010 What's the chance of a second head gasket failure once one has gone and been replaced including a head skim? Mature enthusiast Black with Silver stripe 1.8K super sport. Back with my 7. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonino Posted December 2, 2010 Share Posted December 2, 2010 IMHO, a few of chances if your liners were faulty and remain untouched... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mankee Posted December 2, 2010 Share Posted December 2, 2010 Quite a few things need to be checked when fixing a K-series with a head gasket failure, from my research: - Did you check the liner protrusions from the block as if they are low, the new gasket might not seal properly? - Has the head gone soft from being overheated? - Is the head bolts length correct or were new genuine bolts fitted? - Has the head been overskimmed, leaving it too short? - What gasket set did you use? - What symptoms were/are you getting to suggest the gasket has gone (again)? I'm certainly no expert on the matter but have read around it quite a bit for a future engine build. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan and Daisy Posted December 2, 2010 Author Share Posted December 2, 2010 Thanks Mankee The reason I think it has gone again is that I am loosing water and discovered a leak coming from between the head and block on the exhaust side of the engine. I have checked the torque on the head bolts(new ones fitted with new mod gasket) and they are fine. Do I need to get a new head as skimming it again does not sound like an option. Mature enthusiast Black with Silver stripe 1.8K super sport. Back with my 7. Edited by - Alan and Daisy on 2 Dec 2010 11:56:19 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mankee Posted December 2, 2010 Share Posted December 2, 2010 Are you still running a standard inlet on your Supersport and did you change the inlet gasket when you did the head gasket? It might be that the inlet gasket is leaking, coolant dribbling round to the front (as the engine is tilted over in a Caterham) and showing up as a leak on the exhaust side? There's a bit about this on the MG-Rover forums here. You can get a shim (think it's called a 6th layer?) to go with the 5-layer metal head gasket if your head is a bit low and/or soft. Think my spare engine came with one of these as it had done fairly high miles. Hopefully it will be a simple fix for you as it's gutting having to undo all your recent hard work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan and Daisy Posted December 2, 2010 Author Share Posted December 2, 2010 Thanks again Mankee I didn't change the inlet gasket so I will now check that if you are right that could be a big thing off my mind. Alan Mature enthusiast Black with Silver stripe 1.8K super sport. Back with my 7. Edited by - Alan and Daisy on 2 Dec 2010 13:13:00 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Day Posted December 2, 2010 Share Posted December 2, 2010 The other thing to check is the water rail gasket at the back of the head on the exhaust side. Have a look at Angus & Tessa's pics: here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan and Daisy Posted December 2, 2010 Author Share Posted December 2, 2010 Another thankyou and something else to look out for, cheers. I think I will be busy tomorrow, then off to the Taffis Christmas bash in the evening. Mature enthusiast Black with Silver stripe 1.8K super sport. Back with my 7. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caterhamnut Posted December 2, 2010 Share Posted December 2, 2010 Mick beat me to it - pretty common for that to leak. I may be wrong, but if the head gasket goes, it doesn't necessarily mean that the coolant will be 'visible' on the head/block? As Mankee says, the otherside can also leak if you had an older inlet gasket fitted - also pics on our website. Angus's Adventures in Sevenland Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan and Daisy Posted December 2, 2010 Author Share Posted December 2, 2010 Great pics Angus and I have checked again and it looks more like that water rail gasket as the water is still dripping very slightly now it is cold. Mature enthusiast Black with Silver stripe 1.8K super sport. Back with my 7. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan and Daisy Posted January 6, 2011 Author Share Posted January 6, 2011 I have changed the water rail gasket and the thing is still leaking, next step is to repalce the inlet manifold gasket, I know I have been a bit slow with this but it has been so bl**dy cold and I am in no hurry as I don't intend to use the car till March. Alan Mature enthusiast Black with Silver stripe 1.8K super sport. Back with my 7. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grubbster Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 I had a leak where the water rail bolts on to the engine - but it wasn't the gasket - there was a pin hole in the weld where the flange is welded to the water rail so changing the gasket 3 times didn't fix it! The pink fluid seems to travel well so the leak is not obvious to find. Solent Se7ens Web! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snuttall Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 Same issue as Grubbster - turns out I had a tiny fracture in the weld on the water rail just near the gasket itself which was leaking, but it looked as though the gasket was at fault initially. Was actually abit of a pain tracking down a replacement water rail in what I believe was an older design, should have just had it welded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan and Daisy Posted January 8, 2011 Author Share Posted January 8, 2011 Thanks snutall and grubster, another thing to look out for, but finding the leak if it only a pin hole could be a problem. Alan Mature enthusiast Black with Silver stripe 1.8K super sport. Back with my 7. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweeky Posted January 8, 2011 Share Posted January 8, 2011 try to get hold of some developer that is used in colout contrast crack detection (its basicaly french chalk in the aerosol) spray that on the pipe let it dry, start the engine and wait and watch for the "damp patch" Tweeky to infirmity.................... and beyond Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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