Do I smell trouble?

[Guest]

I need advice again already!! I seem to be 'losing' water, not a lot, but some. No sign of any leaks anywhere, but when I take the cap off the header tank there is a strong whiff likw exhaust fumes. The cooling system seems to gurgle a fair bit after turning the engine off. There is no water in the oil, no oil in the water & the engine runs like a peach. Do I panic now or later? It's a 1984 NA Car.

Also, what do all you experienced 944 guys (I am a rooky owner) use for ARB & Lower Arm bushes? Standard Fitment?

Thanks for the help....

Mike.

 

[mik_ok]

Losing water with no visible leaks usually means head gasket.

 

[Fen]

Agreed. Does it ever start from cold on 3 cylinders?

 

[Guest]

Sometimes theres a slow leak from the intercooler pipes on drivers side next to top of the block. Where it drips onto the hot sorface below the water immediately evaporates and therefore isnt visible. This was pointed out when I had the same problem and it worked! Hope you dont have bigger probs!

 

[sawood12]

Just a thought, if it was a head gasket problem wouldn't it be accompanied by white smoke inthe exhaust or would you only see this if it was a significant leak?

 

[eastendr]

ORIGINAL: scz

Sometimes theres a slow leak from the intercooler pipes

Eh ??

 

[Fen]

I admit i let that one slide - I assume he means a pipe near the intercooler ones. Certainly have problems if your IC pipes are leaking water.

 

[berg944]

As Rick is speechless [] I will point out the error

No intercoolers on lux

write this out 100 times........intercoolers cool air not water......have it on my desk after registration

[]must stop looking at this site while marking homework!

Mike[8|]

Beat me to it Fen

 

[Guest]

Sorry all..anyway those little black rubbery pipes that join the little metal pipes leaked on mine. Off to write the lines now

ORIGINAL: eastendr

ORIGINAL: scz

Sometimes theres a slow leak from the intercooler pipes

Eh ??

 

[mik_ok]

ORIGINAL: sawood12

Just a thought, if it was a head gasket problem wouldn't it be accompanied by white smoke inthe exhaust or would you only see this if it was a significant leak?

In my experience with head gasket failure (not 944 but several more mundane cars) - only if it was a whopping leak, which would probably be accompanied by cross-firing between the cylinders and real lumpy running.

An S2 for example is 3L.
At idle (call it 1000rpm) it's drawing in around 25 litres of air per second. It's therefore expelling the same amount via the exhaust. Even a Great White would struggle to notice any change in content from a slight water leak into a cylinder. []

 

[Guest]

ORIGINAL: mik_ok

ORIGINAL: sawood12

Just a thought, if it was a head gasket problem wouldn't it be accompanied by white smoke inthe exhaust or would you only see this if it was a significant leak?

In my experience with head gasket failure (not 944 but several more mundane cars) - only if it was a whopping leak, which would probably be accompanied by cross-firing between the cylinders and real lumpy running.

An S2 for example is 3L.
At idle (call it 1000rpm) it's drawing in around 25 litres of air per second. It's therefore expelling the same amount via the exhaust. Even a Great White would struggle to notice any change in content from a slight water leak into a cylinder. []

The Piston/conrod might notice it as it come up to TDC.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for all the replies. I have decided to do the head gasket, just in case.....

 

[Guest]

OK - heads off - good news is the cylinders are in top condition. Found a small blow on rear cylinder - glad I got it early. Guess I better order some gaskets & put it back together.....

 

[Guest]

Took head in for a light skim today, should start getting it all back together at the weekend. Enjoyable engine to work on....