View Full Version : help think head gaskets gone
ash_zs180
21-07-12, 11:08 PM
right guys think my headgasket has gone, on way to a meet and i noticed the temp went from just under half to half so i put the heater on and noticed a bit of steam then stopped then started going up to 3/4 so stopped and turned it off straight away then it was chucking all its water out the exspansion tank, i let it cool and got it off motorway to petrol garge it didnt over heat untill got to garage it started going up, i left it to cool and topped it up with water and run it up with lid of it kept chucking water out after couple mins , oil is clear on dipstick but the cap has little muggy in cap water looks ok little off colour but no oil , when i put the fans on i could here it keep clicking but dont think i have heard that before... its a zs180 by the way
fastmike
22-07-12, 07:55 AM
Check both the top and bottom rad hoses are getting hot....then....... check your fans working......then I,de replace the thermostat....assuming you havent got a leak of course......
180s dont suffer with head gasket failure as a rule ........ though it isnt unknown
petet16
22-07-12, 08:47 AM
Also worth replacing the expansion tank cap, if it isn't holding pressure the coolant will boil over as you describe.
ash_zs180
22-07-12, 08:50 AM
it boils over with the cap on, but i also think its leaking out of the bottle with the cap on, fans both kick in perfect... the break down bloke said he always sees the kv6 head gasket going ;( thing is if it is then is it worth doin?
petet16
22-07-12, 08:55 AM
The breakdown man is talking bo11ocks tbh, the cap being on doesn't mean it's sealing.
fastmike
22-07-12, 09:08 AM
Mk3 Escorts used to boil just as the fans came on......that was caused by the cap not sealing on the bottle......new bottle AND cap cured them ..... worth a try if you cant see anything obvious
Dan1971
22-07-12, 09:14 AM
Your breakdown man is talking shoite.....
New cap mate ....
daytona365
22-07-12, 09:33 AM
Your breakdown man is talking shoite.....
New cap mate ....
2nd that..................the 180 doesnt do HGF, but bottle caps. We do loads at work.
talkingcars
22-07-12, 09:47 AM
Most common cause for a (or both) KV6 head gasket(s) to go is running low on coolant.
The coolant normally runs low due to a failed header tank cap (they should be replaced after 5 years) or a failed thermostat housing.
The thermostat on the KV6 sits in the vee at the gearbox end, if you can see coolant in the vee then the housing has gone.
Other possible cooling problems are
a failed water pump, the vains cab come off the impeller or
a seized radiator cooling fan due to lack of use or
blocked waterways in the engine or radiator due mixing antifreeze types and deposits forming.
HGF is more common on the Rover 75 than any other KV6, don't know why.
MG6Turbo
22-07-12, 10:01 AM
Only ever seen a zs with the v6 do head gasket after a thermostat housing failed and didnt get noticed.
Zts and 75s with the v6 do head gaskets all the time, and i believe this is now down to the air circulation within the engine bay, and the split heater matrixes, however, i would say that the initial start of hgf is down to a water leak of some description.
Like said, try a new cap and look at the thermostat housing in the vee.
If it has caused hgf as you have found it too late, then in my opinion it would be cheaper to get another engine or car.
George
2nd that..................the 180 doesnt do HGF, but bottle caps. We do loads at work.
3rd'd
My Freelander has done one twice so i'm changing the engine!! If only an engine change on that was as easy as a 180 :(
ash_zs180
22-07-12, 04:26 PM
cheers guys ill try it, i topped it up with water today and had it running for ages and just sits at normal temp even with heater off and on the fans kick in and water level drops in the bottle then when they shut of it goes up but goes up and lets air/water out and steam but still doesnt get hot, there is no water in the oil or any smoke ect out exhaust, it only boiled up and started to go up just over half after i took it round the block but i turned it straight of its never gone past the next line up from half, i took the cap of when it was running and the water started to drop so i topped it up and then it started to gob it back out , i just hope its not the head gasket failed
so new bottle and cap?
worth a try be cheaper then hg
andys1981
22-07-12, 10:00 PM
ive had to top my coolant up twice since owning it 3 weeks has mayo in the cap and in the engine bit,there must be a leak somewhere,but it seems to be running fine
ash_zs180
23-07-12, 09:31 AM
thats what i had bit i found the breather pipes that go into the section where the cap is was broken aswell as the but ive fixed them to see if that was the problem and the mayo didnt return yet will check it later and the dipstick has always been clean of oil , could be your cap if it is a common problem ment to be changed every 5 years? so like ive said for the sake of 6 quid for a new one is worth a try i only topped the water up once but its been sinse then that its done it after a long run this started but can sit running for ages and never overheats but only does it after driving so might be cap not holding pressure as it looks a bit dirty in top where spring is
It will to boil over without the cap on as the water is expanding. The only thing that prevents it is the pressure cap! If your cap can't hold the pressure then the water will come out. If the hg has gone then the water will normaly boil over from cold before it's expanded. Sounds so much like a duff cap to me ;)
ash_zs180
23-07-12, 06:24 PM
well i push the key up in to were the valve is in the cap and felt stiff but then free off a little i run it up and water goes up over max then the fan comes on slow and it goes down a little but holds perfect temp gave it a run and held its temp so hopefully it will be ok with new cap,
i looked under the engine cover yesterday when it started to do it and it had steam cuming out so i checked and the return/breather pipes were all broke and t piece snapped, i replaced that tempary till get genuine but will proberly be stronger how it is, sinse then the cap hasnt been muggy as one of the breather goes in next to it so i take it that was the cause and maybe be some of the problem i had.
is it normal for the water level to rise when the temp is up as when its cold it does go back down so not loosing any no muggy oil no condensation or water /smoke out exhaust so im starting to believe its not hg ;)
ive had to top my coolant up twice since owning it 3 weeks has mayo in the cap and in the engine bit,there must be a leak somewhere,but it seems to be running fine
If water is mixing with the oil then there is a leak but it doesn't have to be the hg! If the engine has been allowed to over heat it can damage the seal at the bottom liner!! A big job having done it once myself I know. It's cheaper to swap out the engine if you are paying someone to do the work!!
petet16
23-07-12, 06:30 PM
It is normal for the level in the expansion tank to go up as the temp increases.
ash_zs180
23-07-12, 06:39 PM
ok cheers ill keep u updated going to give it a run tonight and see if it is ok but still replace cap when it comes
andys1981
14-10-12, 06:48 PM
any update on this ash
Yeah, the wrong expansion cap was fitted, which I found out at my expense.
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