sweston
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| posted on 27/4/03 at 09:52 AM |
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XFlow - where is the water going
I check radiator level before run, all ok.
After 1 hour run get home, let it cool off and check radiator, it needs major refil.
I have an expansion bottle and its always empty ?
Where's the water going ??
Check oil and sump nothing to indicate waters mixing with the oil.
I had heard there might be a crack in the head leaking into the exhaust ? Does this engine need serious work or sling (its not a 711M block, its got
691M stamped on it).
I have a 711M in bits getting rebuilt to Fast Road spec (as tme & funds allow).
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Dave Ashurst
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| posted on 27/4/03 at 02:51 PM |
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It must be going somewhere!
hope it's something as simple as below..
If you haven't had this engine long could it be that the system isn't well set up, isn't filling with coolant properly and what you
are seeing is air locks working through? Is the coolant higher than the top of the engine when full?
or was it running OK before?
Leaks
No signs of external leaks?
Do you mean expansion or header tank?
If you have a header tank is there a cap on the radiator too and is water blowing out of the overflow? Radiator cap/seal OK? Have a look with the
engine running when it's well warmed up. Try a new radiator cap.
Inlet manifold
Is the inlet manifold tight? Inlet manifold gasket OK? The intake vacuum can suck coolant in from there if it's loose. You might see water
vapour or drips from the exhaust then.
Cylinder head
Gasket ok? check compression.
If you run it without enough coolant then the head will overheat and yes might crack to a waterway esp if you cool it too quick.
Dave
[Edited on 27/4/03 by Dave Ashurst]
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Peteff
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| posted on 27/4/03 at 03:00 PM |
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Water drips from exhaust.
You will always see water drips from exhausts as it is a by-product of hydrocarbon fuel combustion, especially when starting from cold.
yours, Pete.
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
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Dave Ashurst
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| posted on 27/4/03 at 06:56 PM |
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Hi Pete,
I guess it would be hard to notice the difference normally.
I had a leaky inlet manifold gasket on my crossflow this January. My own fault for throwing it back together carelessly.
It produced noticeably bigger clouds of vapour and more drips than usual and that's what made me check what I'd done.
It was in the cold weather and it was on start up. I don't know how much I'd have noticed on a warm day with a warm engine though.
If I was mysteriously losing coolant the inlet manifold gasket is still one thing I'd check.
regards
Dave
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Marcus
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| posted on 27/4/03 at 07:52 PM |
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Sounds like head gasket.
We had same problem last year, seemed ok if pootling around, but give it some stick - major water loss!
Only 1/2 hr job to change, try that first, if still probs, head could be cracked.
Marcus
Marcus
Because kits are for girls!!
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jollygreengiant
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| posted on 27/4/03 at 09:26 PM |
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Firstly have you tried leaving it filled up over night & re-checking coolant level in the morning. dead give away for leaks, could be the core
plug behind the flywheel.
Or could it be the gland seal on the water pump, usual scenario is that they start to leak only when the engine is running. And the water gets picked
up and slung of by the water pump pulley.
Hope this is also useful.
Enjoy.
Beware of the Goldfish in the tulip mines. The ONLY defence against them is smoking peanut butter sandwiches.
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sweston
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| posted on 27/4/03 at 10:18 PM |
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Have re-filled and left over night, water level still ok. In fact since last run have checked every day for a week and still ok.
Will review other post.
Thanks.
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sweston
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| posted on 27/4/03 at 10:37 PM |
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Yep - I mean expansion tank.
Had engine 6 months, done a run each sunny weekend. So air-locks I would have thought would be cleared by now.
No signs off external leaks, no puddles on the garage floor. Nice oil stain below rear-diff !!
Had new water pump Nov last year.
I'll replace head gasket this week, winters comming here and the nights are drawing in so nothing better to do.
Thanks
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Hornet
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| posted on 28/4/03 at 07:18 AM |
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Defo cylinder head gasket symptons m8.... been there many times.
Normally you can smell the water as its been heat up many times.
Do it before you warp head, or an easy job becomes a skim and more money.
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sweston
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 posted on 29/4/03 at 10:39 PM |
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Got the head off and have put a new gasket on. Haven't quite finished putting everything back on yet.
Question - if the cyclinder head gasket had failed allowing the loss off water, what would be the give away on the old gasket. I notice the gasket
blanks off some water passages (old + new) and two off these had been breached.
The cylinder head bolts on the exhaust side had droplets of moisture on them.
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 30/4/03 at 11:55 AM |
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I don't know about the other stuff, but there's a clear warning in my X-flow book NOT to open up the holes blocked by the head gasket.
David
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david walker
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| posted on 30/4/03 at 09:34 PM |
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Hopefully your replacement head gasket will cure the problem. However it's a pity you didn't take the car along to your local engine
specialist first and have a "block test" carried out. (This is a chemical test that looks to detect combustion gases in the coolant - a
symtom of a failed head gasket). It wouldn't have cost much - we do them for free, but then we are the other side of the world!
You would be foolish to refit the head without having it skimmed first. OK it'll cost you (in sterling) about £25. If the gasket has in fact
blown the head will be warped. - Before anyone jumps on me and tells me he got away without, then he has been lucky - so far!
Do not modify your new gasket.
If the old one has blown then look at the fire rings for signs of carbon/soot tracking accross from the cylinder bore outwards. The rings should be
shiny, if there are dark grey patches on them, it's blown.
Finally be aware that X'Flow heads regularly crack. They crack between the inlet & exhaust valve seats. Before refitting, and given that you
have got all winter, take the valves out and inspect closely.
Dave Walker, Race Engine Services - 07957 454659 or 01636 671277
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sweston
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| posted on 30/4/03 at 10:22 PM |
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<<If the old one has blown then look at the fire rings for signs of carbon/soot tracking accross from the cylinder bore outwards. The rings
should be shiny, if there are dark grey patches on them, it's blown. >>
Definatly got those on the old gasket !
The blanked of hole's on the old gasket, there was a lot off corrosion deposits on them and the material it would appear over time has been
breached (not delibratly).
Would have got head skimed, but I have a 711M being built as a replacement and I don't want through money at the old engine. If it keeps going
for a few more sunny afternoons I'll be happy.
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sweston
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 posted on 19/5/03 at 09:13 AM |
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New Cylinder Head Gasket NZ$ 20, new torque wrench NZ$ 80 & New radiator cap NZ$ 8.
Have had 2 * 1 hr runs, water level ok.
She's no more drinking water.
Gutless around 100 km/h though, might have upset card when taking head off ? Tried to pass Sunday driven Holden V8 and she took ages to get from 100
to 120 km/h.
I had to re-do throttle cable as bracket is on rocker cover.
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