Head Gasket or Oil Cooler O-Ring??
11-17-2001, 12:15 AM
#1
Advanced
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Michigan
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Head Gasket or Oil Cooler O-Ring??
Well, hear are the facts, thats all I have... '86 951 running 15psi, Huntly MAF, K27-DR, Wide-fire HG, Raceware studs.
The car drinks coolant, it ends up in the bottom of the crank case, not the recommended location. The compression test showed Cyl. 1=150psi, 2=145psi, 3=145psi, 4=150psi. The tester is el-cheap-o and goes in 5psi increments, my feeling was all cylinders checked okay, is 5psi an indication of a head gasket issue??
Now, I am positive I have oil in the coolant. My expansion tank is brand new, because my wrench said that the old one leaked and that was why I lost coolant. $390 later I have a clean white tank that you can see green coolant and dark oil.. And I still am losing coolant, not really I always find it in the crankcase. So are there any test I can do to confirm a bad o-ring to the oil cooler, or do I just start replacing stuff?
Thanks,
JohnK
The car drinks coolant, it ends up in the bottom of the crank case, not the recommended location. The compression test showed Cyl. 1=150psi, 2=145psi, 3=145psi, 4=150psi. The tester is el-cheap-o and goes in 5psi increments, my feeling was all cylinders checked okay, is 5psi an indication of a head gasket issue??
Now, I am positive I have oil in the coolant. My expansion tank is brand new, because my wrench said that the old one leaked and that was why I lost coolant. $390 later I have a clean white tank that you can see green coolant and dark oil.. And I still am losing coolant, not really I always find it in the crankcase. So are there any test I can do to confirm a bad o-ring to the oil cooler, or do I just start replacing stuff?
Thanks,
JohnK
11-17-2001, 12:10 PM
#2
Addict
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
I would definately do the O rings on the oil cooler. Take a weekend and the $20 worth of seals and have at it. Sounds like classic symptoms to me.
Head gasket oil to water passages usually don't fail. It is a water to cylinder or oil to cylinder failure that is more common.
Other thing... did you re-torque the raceware studs after 1-2 hours of running? You need to get the motor hot to expand everything. Then, let it cool and tear it all back apart. Retorque the bolts, put it together, and head down the road.
Head gasket oil to water passages usually don't fail. It is a water to cylinder or oil to cylinder failure that is more common.
Other thing... did you re-torque the raceware studs after 1-2 hours of running? You need to get the motor hot to expand everything. Then, let it cool and tear it all back apart. Retorque the bolts, put it together, and head down the road.
11-17-2001, 01:21 PM
#3
Advanced
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Michigan
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Perry-
Thanks for the input.. The studs were re-torqued and I really think the head is fine. I agree that I should just change the o-ring.
I know it does not help, but sorry about your car. I feel for ya.
JohnK
Thanks for the input.. The studs were re-torqued and I really think the head is fine. I agree that I should just change the o-ring.
I know it does not help, but sorry about your car. I feel for ya.
JohnK
11-19-2001, 05:42 AM
#4
Burning Brakes
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Ams, NL
Posts: 1,210
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
John
Could you try following and let us know:
Pressurise the cooling system and listen (via a stethoscope or screw driver)on the cylinder head and the internal cooler srea.
With a bit of luck you can hear the air or maybe even the coolant "blurb" through the leak.
Am not sure it will work but you are in the position to try.
Am very interested in the results of this little test.
If it works, it will give a nice and easy confirmation for the cooler seal leak problem.
Could you try following and let us know:
Pressurise the cooling system and listen (via a stethoscope or screw driver)on the cylinder head and the internal cooler srea.
With a bit of luck you can hear the air or maybe even the coolant "blurb" through the leak.
Am not sure it will work but you are in the position to try.
Am very interested in the results of this little test.
If it works, it will give a nice and easy confirmation for the cooler seal leak problem.
11-19-2001, 06:25 AM
#5
Addict
Rennlist
Lifetime Member
Rennlist
Lifetime Member
run the engine if you can until warm, pull the plugs and check the cylinders with a q-tip and a torch. if there is moisture in the cylinders you may see or feel it, if the pistons are clean and shiny (no carbon) they probably just had a wash, does the exhaust smell of coolant? if it does this also points towards the headgasket.