Head gasket??

[CptClinac]

Hi guys,
Just replaced my expansion tank on my y60 TD42 and found that it is filling with lovely green water. (antifreeze - not slime). I guess that means I have a head gasket failing. When the engine's been siting for a day there is still plenty of pressure in the radiator, this surprises me a little. Any advice / comments / suggestions.

Thanks
Dave

[dom14]

Hi guys,
Just replaced my expansion tank on my y60 TD42 and found that it is filling with lovely green water. (antifreeze - not slime). I guess that means I have a head gasket failing. When the engine's been siting for a day there is still plenty of pressure in the radiator, this surprises me a little. Any advice / comments / suggestions.

Thanks
Dave

How did it show there's still plenty of pressure?
Replace the radiator cap, the the hose going into the reserve tank & also check the hose inside the reserve tank that extends
from the lid.

[CptClinac]

Hi Dom,
Funny actually. Just done a long trip with hills an' all. Ended up with the expansion tank full and overflowing and radiator quite low.
Refilled radiator and watched with engine running... Constant stream of bubbles in top of radiator (assume explosions pushing into cooling system via blown gasket).
Now doing short gentle runs on motorway, system behaving again. Rather puzzling.

[dom14]

Hi Dom,
Funny actually. Just done a long trip with hills an' all. Ended up with the expansion tank full and overflowing and radiator quite low.
Refilled radiator and watched with engine running... Constant stream of bubbles in top of radiator (assume explosions pushing into cooling system via blown gasket).
Now doing short gentle runs on motorway, system behaving again. Rather puzzling.

Do a combustion gas test on the radiator before you start pulling the head out.
Head gasket job is not cheap, even if you DIY, 'cos you still need to resurface the head to make sure the head gasket doesn't blow in near future again.

[CptClinac]

Do a combustion gas test on the radiator before you start pulling the head out.
Head gasket job is not cheap, even if you DIY, 'cos you still need to resurface the head to make sure the head gasket doesn't blow in near future again.

Absolutely... Just hope it IS the gasket not a cracked head / block. That would explain why it's not getting badder real quick...

Thanks
Dave

[dom14]

Absolutely... Just hope it IS the gasket not a cracked head / block. That would explain why it's not getting badder real quick...

Thanks
Dave

Don't count on it. If the head gasket in gone, make sure to take the head to machine shop & get it pressure tested and resurfaced.
It's money well spent. More than half of the time, the blown head gasket also causes the cylinder head to develop cracks.