Thread: Engine and water issue

Have the cooling water tested to find out if there are any gases in it, that may indicate if it's a head gasket.

Is it running okay ?

A head gasket, if the head(s) is(are) not warped shouldn't cost an arm and a leg, and very do-able as a DIY project.

Can't see why you would want to go to a recon for this.

How much water are you loosing ?

It seems to be running ok. Plenty of power when passing trucks on the open road. I travel to a mine site out of town each morning and do about 50kms round trip. This is doing speeds of 110km. After two days driving, the reservoir is just about empty and the temperature starts to run higher than normal.

I don't particularly want to go for a re-con engine at this stage so I am really hoping it is just the gasket or maybe the water pump.

Its going to a qualified mechanic on Monday for investigation. This guy is a friend and is pretty honest so I have faith that he will find the problem and he will ring me before proceeding with any repairs that are likely to be expensive.

Its great fun to drive and I love the V8 sound. I just want to get the windows tinted next as the sun in Kalgoorlie is very hot and the air-cond is a bit temperamental at the moment. Next on the repair agenda.

G'day cjstephens

I would check the pressure cap, if it's spring has lost tension then the presure will drop and allow the water to escape through the overflow.
cheers

Originally Posted by UncleHo

G'day cjstephens

I would check the pressure cap, if it's spring has lost tension then the presure will drop and allow the water to escape through the overflow.
cheers

It doesn't seem to have a pressure cap. The overflow tank has a plastic cap which seems to be tight and I can use it to relieve the pressure before open the tank completely to check the water level. You can't see into the radiator core itself.

Originally Posted by cjstephens

It doesn't seem to have a pressure cap. The overflow tank has a plastic cap which seems to be tight and I can use it to relieve the pressure before open the tank completely to check the water level. You can't see into the radiator core itself.

The plastic cap on the 'overflow tank' is the pressure cap, it has a sprung valve in it that will shut off or open to the overflow.

Might want to check that first as stated above

The D1's seem to be going through a phase of cracking overflow tanks,, mine was right underneath, only the wet spot on the ground gave it away.
even if you can find some one willing to weld them up,, its not 100% that the welding will work.

could just be a gasket,, no biggie.

The tell tale sign is if the cooling system keeps getting excessively pressurised when hot... If so, it'll probably be the head gasket.

FWIW - On one of my previous RaRos, it took me 20k to work out that the problems I was having was due to a head gasket! It would idle rough but once revved up, it would still pull well??!!?? Gotta love those V8s (or V6.5 as it was.. )

HTH

M

the D1's also have a habit of weeping water from the coolant pipes on the top of the motor (the ones that from memory goto the heater and one has the filler plug on it). theyre just normal heater type hose with a hose clamp on them (well they were on mine) and when they perish a bit the weep past the joint when the engines working and at temp.. the giveaway is a slight appearance of yelllowy white crud at the joint of the rubber and the metal.