Coolant Loss Woes

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by Laney760

Hi.

So she goes in for a new head gasket on Thursday and they will also skim the head, they have booked her in for two days. They are open Saturday mornings so that gives them 2.5 days.

I can't book into B&B, I have animals at home to take care of.

I was thinking that I may get some horses back after a new head gasket but not according to what I read on the net. Will I need to run it in? Or is it just get in and go as normal?

The aminals come first! (no that's not a typo, i deliberately typed "aminals"!)

Depending exactly where the HG has gone (assuming it has besides the water leak) it may be a bit livelier, also the head skim will improve matters.

You shouldn't have to run it in but remember to have the (new i hope!) timing belt retensioned after 600 miles to maintain the correct tension on the timing belt. Normally after a head-skim i'd recommend switching to super unleaded but as you mainly run on LPG, that already has a higher octane rating (105 if memory serves) so shouldn't be a problem.

Obviously keep an eye on your fluid levels for the first few days just to be on the safe side, are you supplying them with new EG coolant to go in it? Don't want them putting that OAT stuff in it and creating more problems!

[Laney760]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

The aminals come first! (no that's not a typo, i deliberately typed "aminals"!)

Depending exactly where the HG has gone (assuming it has besides the water leak) it may be a bit livelier, also the head skim will improve matters.

You shouldn't have to run it in but remember to have the (new i hope!) timing belt retensioned after 600 miles to maintain the correct tension on the timing belt. Normally after a head-skim i'd recommend switching to super unleaded but as you mainly run on LPG, that already has a higher octane rating (105 if memory serves) so shouldn't be a problem.

Obviously keep an eye on your fluid levels for the first few days just to be on the safe side, are you supplying them with new EG coolant to go in it? Don't want them putting that OAT stuff in it and creating more problems!

HG has gone on the outside they said. I had a new timing belt late September, no point in another new one. I only use the very expensive high octane petrol anyway.

Cheers Dave, of course I will keep an eye on coolant levels. It will be nice not having to top up with expensive coolant, I've bought two five litres of concentrate green in the last few weeks!

[classicswede]

Originally Posted by Laney760

Hi.


I was thinking that I may get some horses back after a new head gasket but not according to what I read on the net. Will I need to run it in? Or is it just get in and go as normal?

If compression is down you will gain some power but if not then no change.

Just drive as normal

I like to do a belt retension and oil change after 1000 miles

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by Laney760

HG has gone on the outside they said. I had a new timing belt late September, no point in another new one. I only use the very expensive high octane petrol anyway.

Cheers Dave, of course I will keep an eye on coolant levels. It will be nice not having to top up with expensive coolant, I've bought two five litres of concentrate green in the last few weeks!

I was suggesting a new timing belt for two reasons. Firstly, you will have a new belt (which for the cost of a belt isn't that much more) and therefore peace of mind for the life of the new belt.

Secondly, the garage may insist on a new belt to ensure they can guarantee the work, even if they fitted it back in september. It also covers you if the timing belt does have problems as you will have told them to fit a new belt.

When i said about checking your levels, i also meant the oil to make sure that the level isn't altering (up or down) as well as the coolant.

[Laney760]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

I was suggesting a new timing belt for two reasons. Firstly, you will have a new belt (which for the cost of a belt isn't that much more) and therefore peace of mind for the life of the new belt.

Secondly, the garage may insist on a new belt to ensure they can guarantee the work, even if they fitted it back in september. It also covers you if the timing belt does have problems as you will have told them to fit a new belt.

When i said about checking your levels, i also meant the oil to make sure that the level isn't altering (up or down) as well as the coolant.

I check the oil and coolant very regularly, always have done. I'll mention the belt to the garage, see what they say, thanks

[Laney760]

WHATS GOING ON ??!!! :-)

I have been losing as much as a full header tank full of coolant from the hg leak every single journey to work for weeks now. Prior to that she lost quite a bit for years. Car goes in for new head gasket day after tomorrow. Yesterday and today I haven't lost a drop of coolant, haven't had to top up for a whole four journeys!! Odd, very very odd!

Don't worry, car is going in for the hg even if I don't lose another drop!

[Laney760]

No thoughts anyone?

My journeys have been no different, quite hard driving. It is very odd, no?

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by Laney760

WHATS GOING ON ??!!! :-)

I have been losing as much as a full header tank full of coolant from the hg leak every single journey to work for weeks now. Prior to that she lost quite a bit for years. Car goes in for new head gasket day after tomorrow. Yesterday and today I haven't lost a drop of coolant, haven't had to top up for a whole four journeys!! Odd, very very odd!

Don't worry, car is going in for the hg even if I don't lose another drop!

It's a weird one Ellie, mention it when it goes in for the HG, it's possible some gunge in the system has temporarily sealed the leak, i seem to recall someone else had a similar problem recently with coolant loss and then it suddenly stopped just before catastrophic HGF and he's just had a replacement engine fitted.

Not saying yours is doing the same but i think the HG is being done just in time!

[kiloran]

Yeah, that was me. Used zero coolant on a really hot 3 hour cross-country thrash (East Sussex hills to New Forest in early July), then it blew a much bigger hole in said HG a couple of days later, to the point if I burped the hose by the water pump coolant would slosh out of the block.

Guessing it's picked up some goop from somewhere and blocked the hole in Ellie's case.

[cheshired5]

Originally Posted by Laney760

It will be nice not having to top up with expensive coolant, I've bought two five litres of concentrate green in the last few weeks!

Why? It's basically pouring money down the drain.
If you have a coolant loss and temps are above freezing, just use water.