Benson is dead! Long live Benson.

[Welsh Warlock]

I received the head gasket test kit from Frost on Friday so I used it on the Rover earlier today.

If the fluid turns from a purple colour to yellow then the head gasket has blown (or at least one in the case of the V8!) Any chance that my eyes are deceiving me or is there a difference in colour between the original fluid in the bottle on the right and that in the tube on the left?



The question now is whether just to take it apart and see what is the damage or, as I know the original engine is not in the best shape, whether to go for a complete new engine.

Answers on a postcard..........

Next stop is the RPI website!

[harvey]

What bottle and tube? ;D

[dorsetflyer]

I would have thought a compression test would have been more accurate, or white steam and water out of the exhaust even when the engine is hot.
Can't see any fluid in the tube. so I would send it back and claim it doesn't work

[Welsh Warlock]

The yellow liquid at the bottom of the tube that looks like someone has taken a leak in it?

When I have a little more time (and a garage to work in) I'll do a full compression test.

I wanted to be 100% sure before I condemned the head gasket(s) as the car has been overheating for almost a year now and I've been trying to track down the problem.

There is a little white smoke (steam) but hard to tell in this cold weather whether it is excessive, hence the tsest kit which frankly I am impressed with as it proved the probelm in minutes.

Maybe not everyone has all of your experience guys.

Considering I took the car to a garage where the mechanic who worked on the car claimed to have owned a P5 and diagnosed the probelem as leaky heater pipes I thought it wise to make a positive diagnosis prior to commencing stripping the engine.

Thanks for the positive comments guys it's really what I need right now.

[Deleted]

Well, it looks from the sample as if this horse is unfit for racing!!!

I can see the sample clearly - and there are a couple of options.
A) Just remove both heads and replace them with Lead Free heads and new thicker composite head gaskets (The cheapest option)

B) As you say, perhaps now is the time to replace the whole engine.

Tough call !

Freddy

[Phil Nottingham]

I agree with Frddy - it depends how much you want to spend but just replacing the headgaskets after decoke may give another 20k miles. Do you do the milegae to warrant a full rebuild??

Check the hose from top of manifold to top of rad gets hot as this gives classic head gasket failure symtons like yours wehen its blocked - usually in the manifold end

[eightofthem (Andy)]

Alloy heads do not take a lot of heat to well and pop a gasket very quick,so a good cooling inspection, clean and flush,thermostat check ,and radiator de silt would be top of my list

[harvey]

The Rover V8 has a reputation for blowing head gaskets but in my experience it's largely unjustified.As mentioned by Phil the bleed pipe from the top of the rad to the manifold is a good place to start, I've lost count of the number of "head gaskets" I've cured by unblocking that. In this case as another test I would run the engine up full temperature then leave the system under pressure overnight. Then in the morning remove numbers 1,2,7&8 plugs and look for signs of coolant.

[Welsh Warlock]

As I have proved that there are exhaust gases in the coolant I think its fair to say that one of the head gaskets has blown.

I've ordered composite gaskets from RPI and hopefully will fit this weekend if they arrive tomorrow.

[Welsh Warlock]

In case anyone is interested, and to save me posting them twice, there are some pictures and commentary on the engine stripdown at: www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?p=1&f=168&t=355173&h=0

[harvey]

All that "mayonaisse" inside the rocker cover is as good an indication you're on the right track as the test kit.
Pull the heads off and inspect the gaskets.

[Phil Nottingham]

Actually its nowhere near as bad as some of these engines get and run for many thousands of miles like it.

Its likely to be a head gasket but you should check they are not warped before refitting - its essential to undo the bolts in the reverse order as well.

While they are off its best to check rockers and sahft, valve guides and valve seats which should be lapped in.

Alternatively fit a recon head or the later SD1 type with bigger valves - Wadhams does them exchange I think

The dreaded black sludge caused soley by infrequent use/engine oil changes often gets so thick that it flakes off and blocks oil ways which then does cause serious damage.!!

[Welsh Warlock]

The heads are already off and the rear left cylinder was leaking into the water jacket.

Update and pics on the pistonheads site link above

[harvey]

I can never understand why people don't drain the coolant before removig the heads, it saves getting it all in the bores as in your pics.
Also there is a special thread sealant that should be used to coat the head bolts on reassembly.
At least you found the faulty gasket.