Head Gasket.....

[suzukisteve]

hey everyone... minor disaster today..

a lil while ago i noticed i was using a bit of coolant, i had a bit of a weeping rad anyway so i dumped a bottle of k-seal in there. its good stuff, ive used it a few times before (land rovers, nuff said). It sealed up the rad and stopped the leak. i thought i was on a bit of a win.. WRONG!

yesterday i noticed some fatal white smoke comin from the exhaust and after a lil play today i checked the levels and noticed that the header tank was full up to the brim...

on the way back from takin a mate to pick her car up i overheated. took the rad cap off and combustion fumes were coming out the coolant. it hadn't lost all its water thankfully so after much swearing i have chilled out.

i can get the parts from work as i work at a motor factors, but is it advisable to get the head skimmed and checked over? do they usually crack or warp? ar anything else i should watch out for?

cheers

Steve

[dan_2k_uk]

If you havent cooked it too much it will probably be ok. Maybe just me being tight but I wouldnt bother myself.

Such an easy job on these that if you find a problem after then just do it again

Dan

[suzukisteve]

yeah thats true. i've not done one before on a zuke but done em on other cars. to be honest, half the reason i love sj's is because they are mechanically simple

i'll strip it down this evening an have a look, thankfully i can get all the parts from work
if there is an obvious blow in the gasket that'll make me alot happier, coz it'll be less likely to be a warped of cracked head.

ill post some pics soon

steve

[ScottieJ]

If you have a good straight edge and some feeler guages you can check the head isn't warped yourself. If you've been to a few pay and plays check your rad isn't clogged with mud, I usually clean mine out after a really muddy day out just to be sure.

[suzukisteve]

yeah good point actually, ill give it a good goin over when i whip the rad out this evening. got cambelt, thermostat, head gasket and oil filter (just coz it needed doin) from work today. 60 squid all in. job done!

cheers scottie

[suzukisteve]

number 1 cylinder was the culprit nice big blow in the gasket!

i should be on the road by the weekend!

steve

[suzukisteve]

I'm back on the road!

head was slightly warped, so had it skimmed and oil seals replaced and valved ground in £85 all in. got all the bit from work (staff discount win!)

head set inc rocker cover gasket and other seals and gaskets
oil filter
oil
plugs
cambelt kit
silicone sealant
etc
£120 all in

just had to wait for the dam weather but its all groovy now!!

down some lanes on the way home i think!!

steve

[ScottieJ]

Nice work, glad you got it sorted, should see a slightly higher compression ratio with the skim too for a tiny bit more poke!

[suzukisteve]

you know what, i did think it was a tad more powerful! not my much mind, but im just so happy to be back in my zuke!!

gonna give it a grease up and maybe even a CLEAN!!!

[dan_2k_uk]

Good to hear you got it sorted