Due to a broken alternator bracket, my water pump failed to turn resulting in ~ 10 miles of driving with no coolant circulation. After stopping, car would not start again. When cap removed from water overflow unit and engine turned over, water spurts in tune with the engine turning. I believe my head gasket has blown. (Zetec 96 Silvertop 2ltr engine).
I have a 1.8lts zetec 94 Silvertop in the garage that could be used for spares. (Want to keep 2ltr power)
Looking for feedback on how best to move forward –
1. Just swap the 1.8 head with the 2.0 head … will this work? Will I loose power?
2. Swap the 1.8 head and use cams / followers from 2.0 ….
3. Trawl scrap yards and purchase another 2.0 zetec silvertop engine.

Any other useful suggestions would be welcome.

I'd do a gas tester check on the coolant (or use on of the purpose designed testing fluids) to see if it's definately gone. You might have just got away with it due to convection.

hmmm, I am not familiar with the water overflow unit cap and would suggest you do some other tests to verify that HG has gone.

Are you truning engine with plugs removed?

From what you are saying it suggests the compression is causing the spruts - removing plugs would elimintae and compression - it may be the spurts are caused by the water pump turning.

Again do the usual like comptression test and checking for exhaust gases in the coolant - you can buy dye that detects them.

Also you would be losing water via the exhaust and maybe into the oil - have you looked at the oil?

Are you able to run the engine?

Likelyt as not, you would need to take the head - the pistons would be really clean - steam cleaned in fact -which would confirm HG failure.

You would need to check head and block for flatness.

Unless I am mistaken, 1800 and 2000 valves arethe same and the cams should just swap over.

Sorry to hear about that. Seems weird it wont start. If the head gasket had blown it should fire on at least a couple of cylinders?? As mentioned remove a couple of plugs and see if you have anything resembling the bellagio fountains.

No water in oil and no emuslion mix on oil cap. Have not removed the plugs - will try that tonight. Where can i purchase a fluid kit to check if gasket has blown?

Thanks for the feedback .... i'll do some more work before head removal.

Any updates?

Hi James,

Had the battery on charge and now topped up. Removed plugs this evening and turned the engine over ... bellagio fountains were observed. Confirmation that gasket is goosed i believe.

I can get a head gasket from a friend for free. Do I try and removed the head and just add new gasket or do i need to get some checks done.

Never performed any engine teardowns so a bit apprehensive. Or just swap engines.

Head gasket isn't a major job - just read the manual and remember line up the timing marks before starting the job.

check both the head and block for flatness - a steel rule at various positions and a set of feeler guages.

as said, replacing head is not complex and it probably is something you should learn how to do.

whether you want to mess about now or later is up to you - if you can get working engine and can fit that in a shorter time, then do that and play with the other engine in your spare time.

Think I'll try and remove the head. As you said, its probably about time i learned some more about engines.

I can always get some help .... britishtrident as you are only a few miles from Airdrie I'm sure you would be available if required?

cheers
Jim.

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Originally posted by JimM
Think I'll try and remove the head. As you said, its probably about time i learned some more about engines.

I can always get some help .... britishtrident as you are only a few miles from Airdrie I'm sure you would be available if required?

cheers
Jim.

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