Outer Limits 4x4 Board

hey guys, ive searched through all head gasket topics but couldn't find this one...

i bought a 96 leafy with 90k on the clock a few weeks back, engine had been cooked, im looking to fix it up.

there is a large amount of oil in the radiator, an equally large amount of water in the sump, and a thick coating of oil sludge through the air filter box. I have drained radiator and sump, pulled off head but i cant see any visible cracks in head block or gasket. pistons also look fine and move freely in block. Its the oil in the air box thats got me stumped!

any suggestions? is it going to be simply to replace engine? thanks heaps, chris

I'm guessing you bought it off ebay ?

If so Id say replace the engine cause I think the head / block is cracked cause its way to much oil to just be head gaskets.

If not I have no idea.

Nick

i had a similar problem when my head was warped, might need to get it machined and blah blah.

SAM

Oil in airbox will be from top of rocker cover. The breather pipe that runs from it to the airbox would of pumped all the crap through it into the airbox.

Layto....

thanks heaps for the replies.

i sent the head to get pressure tested but spoke to a mechanic and was told that oil in radiator would normally indicate a cracked block...

so a new engine will be in order me thinks. seriously considering the gti conversion, would be a good opportunity to do it!

evilrubberchicken wrote:thanks heaps for the replies.

i sent the head to get pressure tested but spoke to a mechanic and was told that oil in radiator would normally indicate a cracked block...

so a new engine will be in order me thinks. seriously considering the gti conversion, would be a good opportunity to do it!

I doubt the block is cracked. When you overheat an engine the piston rings lose their 'temper' or spring. without temper they are loose in the bore and let a lot of combustion pressure into the sump. this pressure has to go somewhere so it goes out the breather in the rocker over, taking lots of oil with it. Oil in the water and vice versa means head or head gasket has blown. Do you know how to inspect a head gasket? Sometimes leaks are very hard to see. If it were mine I'd check the block out and then replace the rings and bearings and reco the head.

Why the GTi engine instead of a Vit or Rolla 4age motor. GTi motor makes power, but needs revs and is gutless low down (where most 4wd action is). The others are better options as tehy dont need to be reved so much.

Layto....

Hi guys,

I recently cracked my block and pretty much snapped a piston of a rod. Easy done. Mine is a coilly though and was at 190K. Had been expecting it but it was a mess internally! haha. Say yours is rooted as well. Put an ad on this forum in the wanted section. Good luck.

Cheers

hey, i agree with want33s,
But also check pistons as i had a coily an it did two pistons while still under warrenty from new.... they coily motors didnt have very good internals....

after looking into costs of engine conversion i think i'll stick with fixing original motor. is there any good way of checking blocks/pistons/head/head gasket for cracks or is this a job for the engine shop? i had a really good look but i know they may be too small to see.

thanks again

Have you removed the pistons yet,the ring glands might be broken,which will force compression back into block,spew oil into the airfilter,not sure about water in oil though,I am also rebuilding my engine,Cheers Paul.

evilrubberchicken wrote:after looking into costs of engine conversion i think i'll stick with fixing original motor. is there any good way of checking blocks/pistons/head/head gasket for cracks or is this a job for the engine shop? i had a really good look but i know they may be too small to see.

thanks again

After a thorough clean. Visually inspect the block deck and bores. If you don't see any cracks or obvious defects like a massive lip or shadowy spots in bores( indicates overheated barrel), it might be OK. Check for bore 'out of round' at top and bottom, block may not be borable. If you aren't sure the block can be sonic tested for thickness and cracks. The pistons can be visually as well as cracktested but probably cheaper/better to replace ( will need replacing if block needs rebore). Send the head to a professional head reconditioner, they will soon tell you if its not servicable.IE cracked or warped etc.