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bb4 h22a cream. head scratcher? help? signs of headgasket
Posted: Tue Mar 19, 2013 3:18 pm
by crigal.bb6
Hi guys just bought a bb4 for a good price from a old man who was guna scap car. (#gemofafind.) Anyways long storie short he was adderment that the head gasket was on its way out because of a garges say so. He told me the car had overheated twice. I hav driven the car 25 miles on way home temp is normall. Runs spot on! Started car yesterday and did sum town driving, perfect. Thermastat works fine, fan works. Anyways just to be safe did head gasket test and die didnt change couler even slightly. Left me nd my friend gob smacked! Car hasnt been driven much lately. Any ideas of wer the moisture or wte it mite be is coming from? Any imput would be much appreciated? Thanks for your time.
S.A OVER LOL
Posted: Tue Mar 19, 2013 3:27 pm
by Merlin
crigal.bb6 wrote:Any ideas of wer the moisture or wte it mite be is coming from?
Garages
Where do you see water? on the floor? out the exhaust? interior footwells? How much water does it use over a specific distance? Where have you been filling the expansion tank to?
Posted: Tue Mar 19, 2013 3:30 pm
by Levislude
Quite often a car that only does short trips will have emulsified deposits under the oil filler cap which is wrongly diagnosed as a head gasket failure. Wipe any of the deposits away and take the car for a long run to get it thoroughly warmed and up to a sustained temperature. If the cap remains clean then you may well be ok.

Posted: Tue Mar 19, 2013 3:32 pm
by NafemanNathan
failing head gaskets on a lude is very uncommon. Be interested to see the answers to Merlin's questions.
Posted: Tue Mar 19, 2013 3:33 pm
by Supermarine Blues
Do an oil change; better safe than sorry if it's got water in it.
And turn off predictive text!
Posted: Tue Mar 19, 2013 3:42 pm
by crigal.bb6
Hasnt used any water in its two journeys on of witch was 25-30 miles. Guna flush engine and change oil, oil filter. Still how would that cream be getting ther? Cant help wondering y it overheated for him. Air pocket? Cheers guys.
Posted: Tue Mar 19, 2013 4:10 pm
by stk prelude
Cold mornings/days.. short journeys = creamy cap! go for a long drive.. then check.
also best time to check is on a warm day.. especially if you've not had many cold/frosty mornings for awhile!
also.. yes another also... if your head gasket has gone.. your overflow tank will be filling up as not enough pressure in the system to suck it back in.. i think thats what Rich said at PAW to me.
Other option is to speak / see rich at PAW

Posted: Tue Mar 19, 2013 5:14 pm
by crigal.bb6
Ok cheers i will check that. Think we allready looked and ther wasnt much water in the overflow tank. Fingers crossed its nothing just a build up over time. :-/
Posted: Tue Mar 19, 2013 5:55 pm
by jjmartin349571
The sniffer test has picked up the failed head gaskets on 2 of my cars (VW's

) and I understand the chemical used is very sensitive, so I'd be inclined to say if the test didn't show up anything then your head gasket is sound.
As above, moisture can find its way in to the engine if it's left standing. Clean up what mayo you can, change the oil and filter, take it for a good blast and see what you get!
Posted: Tue Mar 19, 2013 6:28 pm
by Supermarine Blues
crigal.bb6 wrote:Hasnt used any water in its two journeys on of witch was 25-30 miles. Guna flush engine and change oil, oil filter. Still how would that cream be getting ther? Cant help wondering y it overheated for him. Air pocket? Cheers guys.
Do not flush!
It tends to dislodge cra p and bung up the VTEC solenoid/lost motion dampers etc & create more problems than it solves.
You'd be better off doing a couple of short-interval oil changes.