mad_pete Posted April 25, 2007 Share Posted April 25, 2007 Rather key hose on my range rover decided to split. Temp gauge and coolant loss light failed to alert me and only lots of helpful smoke out finally showed the way. I ran for a couple of miles while losing coolant ( if only I had paid more attention to the gas cutting out ) The engine stalled when I pulled up. The car does start. There is no water in the oil ( yet ). Took about 5 kettles worth to fill the radiator back up. I need to fix hose and check levels after but are there any other checks worth doing ? Pull the plugs ? Compression test ? What are my chances of getting away with this ????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
istruggle2gate11 Posted April 25, 2007 Share Posted April 25, 2007 What are my chances of getting away with this ????? Pretty good if the engine has not done this before, especially as you were driving at speed and being cooled by air. Only real test is to repair, fresh coolant an d run as normal! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bishbosh Posted April 25, 2007 Share Posted April 25, 2007 Yep, I would agree. Refill with the correct mix of water / antifreeze and chance your arm. If you start loosing coolant without an obvious leak then you have probably blown a head gasket, but I would think the risk is low. Oh, and next time, pay attention to that temp gauge!! That's the first rule with a V8! Drive a bit - check gauge, change gear, check gauge, check mirror, check gauge, pick nose, check gauge you get the picture? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Brock Posted April 25, 2007 Share Posted April 25, 2007 Which guage fuel or temp ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fisha Posted April 25, 2007 Share Posted April 25, 2007 both. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bull Bar Cowboy Posted April 25, 2007 Share Posted April 25, 2007 The biggest factor will be the temperature of the engine at the time you refilled the radiator…………. most damage occurs by putting cold water into a really hot engine. Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Henson Posted April 25, 2007 Share Posted April 25, 2007 If you have cooked your engine - problems may not be immediately apparent. The excessive heat affects the material of the head gasket if it's the composite type, and it may blow at a later date. But as has already been said - fill it up and see how it goes. And don't pick your nose - there's always someone looking when you do it. I've seen Bish do it a few times (never knew a finger could go up a nose that far) Les Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mad_pete Posted April 25, 2007 Author Share Posted April 25, 2007 Thanks, despite my vigilante rotation of road, speedo, temp gauge as I pulled up with smoke pouring from the bonnet and water pouring onto the road, the coolant loss light remained out and the temp gauge confidently reported temperature was just to the tepid side of normal. I think I have old style gaskets and I didn't put any more water in until 3 days later. :-) ( although I did briefly drive it to get it off the AA man's lorry ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mad_pete Posted May 2, 2007 Author Share Posted May 2, 2007 okay hose on and water in. Car starts + , nothing leaks to start with + and then water gushes out of the header tank! I was expecting to put water in not have the car throw the exisiting water out ????? It seemed a lot. Is there any chance that is just the water expanding as it heats ??????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
istruggle2gate11 Posted May 2, 2007 Share Posted May 2, 2007 okay hose on and water in. Car starts + , nothing leaks to start with + and then water gushes out of the header tank! I was expecting to put water in not have the car throw the exisiting water out ????? It seemed a lot. Is there any chance that is just the water expanding as it heats ??????? It could be as simple as an air lock, but also it could be a headgasket failure, how hard are the hoses? It would be worth trotting to the local garage and getting the water tested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted May 2, 2007 Share Posted May 2, 2007 Does it gush because the header tank cap is off, or does it spit out in an over-pressure boiling type fashion? The amount of expansion is quite a lot so if you've topped everything right up it may well spit out a litre or so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mad_pete Posted May 2, 2007 Author Share Posted May 2, 2007 hoses are quite soft, not sure the top hose is even filled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
istruggle2gate11 Posted May 2, 2007 Share Posted May 2, 2007 hoses are quite soft, not sure the top hose is even filled. Pete, Assuming that its an efi, then its essential to fill the system properly and without air locks, simple things like heater valve open etc. Also, as nasty as it is, take one of the higher hoses or top fill beed cap off and blow through the expansion tank cap to force any air out, then if possible, get an assistant to replace hose or cap ensuring no air gets in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted May 2, 2007 Share Posted May 2, 2007 My usual method is to fill with water and then "pump" the top hose quickly and firmly which usually makes bubbles gurgle up through the system as water is forced about the place, then keep topping up and repeating. It's not very scientific but it seems to work. If your system has been totally empty then you may need a bit more help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mad_pete Posted May 2, 2007 Author Share Posted May 2, 2007 hmmm heater pipes seem to get v hot and rad not so much. Thermostat jammed shut perhaps ??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
istruggle2gate11 Posted May 3, 2007 Share Posted May 3, 2007 hmmm heater pipes seem to get v hot and rad not so much. Thermostat jammed shut perhaps ??? Worth a £5 check Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mad_pete Posted May 3, 2007 Author Share Posted May 3, 2007 hmm I get the feeling the thermstat housing bolt is favouring shearing off over undoing. Get a blow torch on it perhaps ? What are the symptoms if the head gasket is gone and the water system is being overheated /pressurized by the compression chamber ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Henson Posted May 6, 2007 Share Posted May 6, 2007 If you are sure the thermostat is ok (you can take it out and either test it in boing water or test the engine with it out of the vehicle). Sometimes slowly filling the engine while it's ticking over prevents air locks as well. If the engine pressurises still, then maybe you have blown the head gasket. The engine will probably rapidly overheat (within a few minutes usually) as well. A compression test (you can buy a tester from Halfrauds for about £20), or a chemical leak test will tell a story as well. Les. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mad_pete Posted May 11, 2007 Author Share Posted May 11, 2007 It did survive !!!! Only me putting the timig 180 degress out slowed me down. I',m such a donkey........... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mad_pete Posted May 30, 2007 Author Share Posted May 30, 2007 Oh how quickly a I did survive turns into a oh no my engine's a total write-off. Head gasket blown and bores marked. :-( Not ideal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Henson Posted May 30, 2007 Share Posted May 30, 2007 I take it you have the heads off to see the bores? When you say marked - do you mean scored vertically or is there thin strips of alloy on the bores from where the pistons have picked up? Les. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mad_pete Posted May 30, 2007 Author Share Posted May 30, 2007 Garage took the heads off. Mechanic said there was really bad pick up on cylinder 1. I'm going to take a look tomorrow. Is there any hope for either outcome ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mad_pete Posted May 31, 2007 Author Share Posted May 31, 2007 Had a look, it's some pretty bad vertical scoring. ...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Henson Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 When a piston picks up, it gets so close to melting point that the alloy is transferred to the wall of the cylinder bore. On the good side you can hone the alloy off the cylider bore, but on the bad side you will have to remove all of the pistons and inspect or replace them - engine rebuild time I would say. You came within a few seconds of a total engine sieze. Les. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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