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I flippin broke it!!

Flatty

Flatty

New member
Head gasket let go on the 944 race car at Bedford on Monday, didn't overheat just a flicker of the oil warning light and then the oil ended up mixed with water coming out of the cooling system overflow[:mad:][:mad:]

So I've got a bit of spannering to do but can't decide whether to try for a better quality head gasket.

Anyone here used Cometic MLS Gasket before ? I have had this recomended to me but the website is not to good for technical info.

By the way up till the little failure the car was absolutely brilliant, mich cups in the dry, doesn't get much better[:)][:)]
 
My personal opinion is to stay with the factory gasket, it is perfectly fine up to a good level of boost and lasts many years. At some point it will wear out and let go (like yours has) but it is far better for the gasket to go, rather than melt a piston.
 
Your not kidding Paul, I had a head gasket break on my old 900 T16 but it didn't go bang just leaked a little. Problem was this caused an awful hot spot which by the time I noticed it had cracked the cylinder head and welded one of the plugs into the head.
 
Hi,used a cometic gasket and never had issues.Ran mega boost on my gt4 which it took in its stride,but to be honest so did the standard gasket.It was rebuild time so went for peace of mind.
 
Just had information from previous owner who said ' it should have had a Cometic MLS gasket fitted when the engine was refreshed last time' Oh dear that sounds ominous. Well. I will find out on the 27th June when I get the head off [&o]
 
What car is this on? Just asking lest there is any possibility that it is an early car on which the oil/water intercooler seals could still be of the old type. I have seen failed oil/water intercoolers too... Produces the oil/water mix, with pressurised cooling system, but without the loss of performance, etc, etc.

I believe the official line is to change the main bearings if this happens (intercooler, not headgasket, though I suspect it is the oil and water mixing that is the problem, so possibly no different)... I didn't, and they failed a short time after...
 
By intercooler I believe that he means oil to water heat exchanger. Im guessing that you arent familiar with the problem? It principally affects series one cars and the seals fail allowing coolant and lubricant to cross mix. All Turbos were 2.5l 8v btw...

Id probably go for the cometic gasket, as the caveats mentioned by Paul above dont apply to a normally aspirated car. I would replace the mains, big ends and thrust bearings too, as later failure is common.

Simon
 
Thanks Simon & Tref

I have taken the head off only to find no problem, before I read Simon's explanation. [:(] I am learning about this car every day

I am sure now that the advice you both offered was correct and I wish I had seen Simon's post earlier. I have not got to the oil cooler yet but when I drained the oil from the sump to do the head, it was perfect, but the water around the outside if the bores is mixed with oil.

The head gasket that was installed was a standard turbo gasket and had no visible signs of failure. The head is corroded a little between the water ways but has no other apparent floors.

I suppose the only good thing is that I now know how to take the head off if I need to do it again!!![8|]


 
It is relatively simple to codge something together in order to check your oil/water intercooler for leaks - I worked on the principle that with 5bar oil pressure, less than 1bar water pressure, the intercooler should be able to withstand 60PSI without damage, so that was the pressure I tested at. A failed one failed to hold any pressure at all in my case.

Contrary to popular belief, it is possbile to remove and refit the oil water intercooler without dropping the engine mount - in fact the only parts you need to remove are power steering pump, and undo anti-roll bar bracket at the chassis and swing it out of the way on the anti-roll bar. The twisting and turning necessary to get the intercooler housing out cannot be described, but it is possible.
 
Got it all off, pretty easy job with the head already off the car. The outer 'O' ring on the cooler was knackered. So I will pressure test the cooler, fit new 'O' rings to both ends and then after replacing the valve stem seals and lapping in the valves while I've got it all apart I will put it all back together in the next week or so.

Must be ready to go for a track event at Bedford on 3rd Aug.

 
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