motorhead16v4
|
| posted on 17/10/02 at 04:36 PM |
|
|
Head gasket replacement?
My friend has an '86 Ford Escort. He took it to the shop becuase it was leaking antifreeze like mad and they said it was the head gasket. Doesn't
seem too surprising, from what I've read about these cars. The shop wanted to charge him 800, more than he paid for the car. I'm adept at auto
repair, so I was wondering how tough of a job this would be? Any help or advice would be appreciated. Thanks guys.
|
|
|
|
|
johnston
|
| posted on 17/10/02 at 05:07 PM |
|
|
if its the ohv or cvh its a piece of wee but is it definatly the headgasket?? to be "leaking like mad" it would need to be presurising somethin
serious and 800 is a bit steep for just a head gasket
|
|
|
motorhead16v4
|
| posted on 17/10/02 at 06:01 PM |
|
|
Well, the antifreeze isn't absolutely pouring out, but it is smoking a lot. It's not consuming a lot of anti freeze. It just smokes a lot. The
car still runs somewhat okay. The shop did a pressureizing test of the cooling system and they said it was the head gasket. As far as price, I guess
every shop is different. It might have been less, and he was exaggerating.
I looked at the engine, and everything below the head is wet. The head and above is pretty clean.
[Edited on 10/17/02 by motorhead16v4]
|
|
|
JohnFol
|
| posted on 18/10/02 at 08:00 AM |
|
|
Another indicator of a head gasket is the oil at the top of the engine. If contaminated with water it goes like mayonaise.
Head gasket kit is typically £20-£30, with new oil / oil filter / top up antifreeze say £40.
Not done one of these heads myself, but have done Rovers / Cav's / X-Flows and as a keen amature I could easily do one in half a day.
So unless the head needs skimming (add another £40), you are looking at nearly £200 per hour for their labour!
|
|
|
Stu16v
|
| posted on 18/10/02 at 04:37 PM |
|
|
A couple of obsevations. Beware of diagnosing CVH engines by 'mayo' in the rocker cover. They are prone to doing that anyway (especially with cheapo
oil). And CVH motors are also known for smoking. What colour is the smoke? Blue smoke probably means that the valve stem seals are knackered.
However, if its the 1300 pushrod, the engine is probably knackered.....
On the whole, these engines are crap. most of the internals are made of chocolate.
What we really need to know is what engine it actually is before trying to give advise. Both types are relatively simple to work on, but each have
their 'quirks'.
Stu.
Dont just build it.....make it!
|
|
|
motorhead16v4
|
| posted on 20/10/02 at 02:33 AM |
|
|
It has a 1.9 L carbueted engine. There is antifreeze pouring out of the seam between the head and the cylinder block, especially in the proximity of
the exhaust manifold. I got everything but the timing belt and the crankshaft pulley off today, and I will be ready to remove the head tomorrow. The
valvatrain has a SOHC, but the cam itself is embedded in the head. There are short pushrod-looking things leading to the rockers, and then those push
on the valves in a normal way.
Thanks for your help so far.
[Edited on 10/20/02 by motorhead16v4]
|
|
|
johnston
|
| posted on 20/10/02 at 04:50 PM |
|
|
1.9??????????? do u not mean 1.6 and it sounds like the cvh if u can do the valve stem oilseals while its of on a 86 escy their bound to b gone to
|
|
|
theconrodkid
|
| posted on 20/10/02 at 05:41 PM |
|
|
i get the idea he is talking about an american engine,could be a cvh based model if its sohc,and we all know how simple they are!
|
|
|
david walker
|
| posted on 20/10/02 at 09:26 PM |
|
|
It sounds like a 1600 cvh suffering from corrosion to head at gasket face. Head will probably want welding, will certainly want skimming. I would be
quoting £160+vat to include welding, skimming gaskets, new bolts and a/freeze.
Dave Walker, Race Engine Services - 07957 454659 or 01636 671277
|
|
|
motorhead16v4
|
| posted on 26/10/02 at 10:38 PM |
|
|
Hmmm...yeah, I'm in the USA...sorry if that caused any confusion. I drained the oil, and there is NO antifreeze in it...is this possible if the head
gasket is blown? I did a stupid thing and didn't check the engine out for myself before I dug in...I trusted the shop's diagnosis. The $800 quoted
was US dollars...
The car supposedly only has 70,000 miles on it. Do you think I should put it back together and see what's really wrong with it before I rip the head
off? Part of the timing belt tensioner broke, but the way it's designed I can still make the timing belt tight. I got the belt put back on and
everything is aligned properly...belt is snug and not going anywhere.
|
|
|
theconrodkid
|
| posted on 27/10/02 at 07:53 AM |
|
|
dont use any t/b tensioner thats broken,we allways replace belt and tensioner as a pair,never re use a timing belt,when they go they cause big
probs.
you said you could see antifreeze running out from the gasket line so asume the gasket has gone,allways get the head skimmed,if its anything like our
cvh engines they are so simple to do .
|
|
|
fastavatar.jpg){kind=avatar}
