Head gasket?

[freelancewriter1]

My 1993 4L is overheating, quite suddenly. Changed radiator and thermostat, just re run and definite bubbling in expansion bottle!
Had anyone experience of head gasket problems please?
Keith in France

 

[jonigel]

If you have bubbling in the expansion tank it normally would indicate a leaky head gasket, how is the oil ?. Any way it is not hard to do but you will need the head skimmed and DO NOT turn the engine over ,unless you lock the pistons down,you can get a good head set from Oscaro and anything else you may need for it.
Bon courage.

 

[Cornish4]

Yes I reckon it could be the head gasket too. I think jonigel means lock down the cylinder liners before attempting to turn the engine over, not the pistons. Bit of a pain this, especially after you've gone to the expense of changing the radiator, but it does sound like it is the head gasket. Any water in the sump? If so its head off.

 

[benchseat]

Do not assume that if the oil is clean, then it may not be a head gasket. It definitely is : the bubbling in the expansion tank is an absolute giveaway (happened to me).

Head off, re-skimmed and new gasket. This will cure the problem and also give improved performance.

1108cc models are prone to this as the cylinder head bolts are scarcely long enough to be adequate. It is a good policy to have the head bolts re-torqued every time you take it for CT.

A 1993 4L? It must be one of the very last as production officially ceased in 1992.

 

[freelancewriter1]

Head gasket

Thanks folks, yes oil is clean and no water in sump.

It is one of the last built and was one owner before us. The model is a Savanne.

I've been looking at Oscaro, they have so many gaskets on their site I can see the head will have to come off to see which I need.

Good tip about the head bolts.
Thanks
Keith

 

[malcolm]

Have you bled the cooling system? Expansion bottle positioned above the engine, turn the heater to hot, open the heater bleed until you get water out, and squeeze the top hose until it doesn't feel like it has air in it. All the time checking the radiator is full of water.

If it still overheats possibly a head gasket but worth ruling out air locks in the system before taking the engine apart.

 

[freelancewriter1]

Thanks Malcolm, will do all that first thing tomorrow.