Here's another 19 valver problem

Site Subscriber Joined: 22 Mar 2004 Posts: 150

just replaced my radiater as the other had a leak, so while i was at it i put in a low temp thermostadt, and switch, and a new coolant sensor as the poor thing was getting a bit hot.
on stating it and filling it with water there was a fair bit of white smoke coming out of the exhaust, i just put it down to it been sitting for 2 weeks doing nothing and with the weather being a bit humid there was prob moisture in the exhaust.
anyway took it out for a run the white smoke eventually went away, the car run fine until i come to a stop and the thing is idling like its runnig on 2 cylinders not white smoke but a blue/white smoke comes out, until i give it higher revs the smoke goes away and she runs fine.
spoke to a friend of mine and he thinks the head gasket has gone, but i'm not sure because if i boot it there isnt a cloud of smoke following me.
any help would be much appreciated, as there seems to be one thing after another.

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

first of all you wasted your money on the low temp stat and switch its stupid to fit these.

Anyway does sound like the head gasket. Get a compresion test done.

Site Subscriber Joined: 22 Mar 2004 Posts: 150

yeah will get a compression test done.
just read the thread by leigh_f "Bad idle, loss of power and smoke" and its the same symptoms, bloody thing its been good to me for nearly 4yrs and now this, i'm gonna do the gasket myself then sell it, how hard a job is it? and how long?
and cheers chris,.

Site Subscriber Joined: 01 Mar 2004 Posts: 458

Just to upset you the garage have just called me said the gaskets fine. said the valve cylinder is cracked or something. all i heard was "cracked" and "no good" not happy. not sure what to do, think i need to source a new lump. Maybe a williams!! (got to find one though!)

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

depends how good you are.

I wouldn't regard it as hard, but it can take up time if bolts snap etc etc.

If it all goes well a few hours.

Site Subscriber Joined: 22 Mar 2004 Posts: 150

i'm reasonalbly handy i suppose i'm a compresser service engineer.
do you suggest get new head bolts aswell.

its strang really as its fine at high revs and goes ok as well.

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

Leigh the heads cracked I take it? Means a new head or it may be repairable.

new headbolts would be an idea but I have re-used em before.

As for the high revs thing think of it this way. At low revs theres not as much cylinder pressure and the time for a cycle is longer, so its easier for water etc to leak into a cylinder.

Site Subscriber Joined: 22 Mar 2004 Posts: 150

got ya, im goona have a go. cheers chris.

Site Subscriber Joined: 22 Mar 2004 Posts: 150

also chris another question, on sunday i drive it round my dads to stick it on his drive, then a couple of hours later pop the bonnet to show me dad the engine, and the engine was still hot, but things like the exhaust manifold was cool, what could be the prob do you think its the elec water pump thats gone??

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

nope thats perfectly normal.

Inlet manifold stays the hottest for the longest, a good 5/6 hours.

Site Subscriber Joined: 22 Mar 2004 Posts: 150

just to update everyone (thats if ur interested lol) it was defainatly the gasket that has gone one of the metal rings had split in half on no.1 cylinder.
its was the first 16v headgasket i have done i have done plenty of 8v's, its just to tight to get at evrything, i did take my time over it starting at 1oclock and finishing at 6oclock,and i finished it yesterday took me 4days lol dont laugh its my first. but just to let you know she is running sweet as a nut.
thanks for the help everyone.

Mr Quoter-vator Joined: 16 Feb 2004 Posts: 7405

cool...took me three weeks to swap a head over...so 4 days is nothin to be embarassed about.

Forum Moderator Joined: 18 Feb 2004 Posts: 7432

...and it took me just over a month i think, but then i did rebuild the head totally. But hey... I was busy. Embarassed