headgasket?

Forum: 

Hello all, ive a limited Ed. 1996 sporty elxi

Now this vehicle has low milage - <70,000 - I gave it a long run one day and I just couldnt help noticing the thermo bouncing off the red. So I stopped! For a while! Then progressed. Then stopped. Dead!!
The radiator was sizzling and the enigine was cooking. It doesnt move, and hasnt moved since then. The heater inside didnt work on the bottom two settings. I put some coolant (light mix) into the radiator as she was cooling down but to no avail.
Today, I think the thermo, water pump and headgasket are gone. Does any one out there have any ideas on the headgasket theory. I'm not at the vehicle at present as it is tucked up at home but I do intend to rectify the probs - its a nice vehicle. I plan to check the thermo shortly in hot water. The water in radiator was a dirty brown colour!!
cheers all.

Exhaust Smoke

Did you have white smoke coming from the exhaust? That would normally indicate a headgasket has gone.

You said it stopped dead, does the engine still run? If the engine continues running while overheating, it could seize. It is normally a good idea to switch the engine off before it overheats, and wait 30-40 minutes before putting any coolant in, as it can warp or crack the head if you put it in while the engine is still hot.

Mine overheated and I found the cooling system was full of Radweld and had blocked up, plus the water pump was leaking.

After flushing it out and replacing the water pump, it was fine.

Folks, I must say cheers. Im

Folks, I must say cheers. Im sure you all have damn good answers to the problem but I think shes banjaxxed! I did settle the yoke but on the last hog she died. The starter just ticks, no turn fromthe engine.

Then stopped. Dead!!

Never drive a steaming motor! Switch off and find the fault. If you drive then its going to go BANG!
I think your have killed your motor! If it stopped 'dead' - wheel skid - your engine is seized. That means you have welded the pistons to the cylinder block by over heating the engine. If so its scrap.
If the engine can be turned using the starter motor then the engine is not seized. You might be lucky and caused no damage but you must sort why it was boiling .. thermostat, broken belt, water pump, coolant leak, coolant blocked, its endless!
However, the cooking might have either blown a hole in one of the pistons, blown a hole through the cylinder head, or warped the cylinder head. If the cylinder is damaged the cylinder head will need to be removed.
Your first check is to try the starter motor ... does the engine turn over?

Its been a while now. Yea I

Its been a while now. Yea I checked the engine this morning - battery was flat. I took out the sparks and put in a jag of petrol, then filled the radiator, and put on the jump leads.
On the first go she kicked and wanted to start but then died off, I stopped and switched off and havent touched since. The belts seem fine from what I can see. I cant tell about the thermo yet or the water pump. Do you thinkk she is dead??!
Cheers

Steaming

Never to old to play in the mud Smile

Been driving since 1972. and have had my share of overheating. Have learned some valuable lessons and some very costly, especially if you carry on driving when the guage is off the scale and there are rumblings from under the bonnet. Especially here in the land of everlasting sunshine, important steps to take is to ' Check all fluid level regularly, correct levels of coolant and rust inhibitors, systamatically check all hose for leaks and wear '.

Even tiny holes caused by small foriegn bodies hitting radiator fins, can cause problems when engine has reached operating temp. The smallest hole will soon become a steaming geezer, if that temp guage goes up beyond the normal operating temp stop as soon as possible. It can take a while for the engine to cool enough to put fluids back in, there is if done too soon a major risk to the block and the head.

And take the uttmost care removing radiator caps, unless your up to time in an intenssive burns ward at your local hospital.

I had a bottom hose let go in the wee small hours of a cool morning, and the temp guage didn't even read the change. The fluid is gone so quickly it doesn't register, the first indication of a problem was the vehicle becoming sluggish up a hill. ' No Fliud No Steam ", the motor was locked solid, and could not be turned even being towed. On dismantling the engine, the head was warped beyond repair, the valves were pitted, and the pistons were stuck tight in three out of four cylinders.

So hope that answers a few questions, here in Aus we rely heavily on our vehicles due to the sheer distances from A - B, and unless your in the suburbs it's all you have to get around.

Never to old to play in the mud :-)