Two years hard work and now this ................

[jamcarr2]

As you may know i spent over two years repairing the body respraying the car and getting it in next to perfect condition ,at last it was on the road in September and what a joy it was to have it back .Then going to work in it today and the head gasket has gone ,it was like a steam engine behind me with all the white smoke coming out of the exhaust . body work and paint is not a problem to me but the thought of removing the heads frighten the life out of me so tonight I will read the R O M at least twice then read every post on hear about head gasket then decide if I am going to tackle it myself ,pay some one or just set fire to it
wish me luck
John

[flying farmer]

Probably not the head gasket but a failed inlet manifold gasket.

I got caught like that in the early days of my Stag engine TR, steam coming out of the LH exhaust pipe lead to me replacing the LH head gasket.

Couldn't see anything wrong with the head gasket, and read an article in the Stag Magazine a month later saying that water being drawn into the engine was inlet manifold gasket, cooling system pressurising was head gasket failure.

Just to rub my nose in it, the inlet manifold gasket blew again a couple of months later. I then realised the manifold was the wrong angle to sit flat in the V, and had to spend a while reshaping it to fit with a large file.

While the engine is running combustion chamber pressure is greater than cooling system pressure so gas can only escape into the cooling system. When the engine is stopped water can fill the cylinder either from the head gasket or from the inlet manifold gasket. This is why it is important to use the payen type inlet manifold gaskets as they have a built in escape route for leaking water.

Neil

[jleyton]

Me too saying don't fear the worst - my money would be on inlet manifold gasket.

Simple way to find out is to borrow or buy a block tester.

Good luck John.

Cheers

Julian

[jamcarr2]

Hi Neil
I did think this myself whilst at work today so when |I got home I whipped the inlet manifold off but all looks ok ,took the spark plug out of no 8 cylinder and water ran out
do you think its worth putting it back together with new gaskets on the inlet manifold and seeing if its ok

[jamcarr2]

was typing when you posted Julian, so if I pressure test the cylinders that will tell me for sure ?

[jleyton]

No, not a pressure test, a block test. This takes a sample from coolant while the engine is running and can identify if there is any trace of combustion gases in the coolant. If it's head gasket there will be, if inlet manifold there won't be.

Cheers

Julian

Ps Like this: http://www.frost.co.uk/block-testers.html There are slightly cheaper ones on Ebay but I'd prefer going to a well known supplier.

If you Google 'block tester' there's a UTube video of it.

[jamcarr2]

Ok Julian thanks for the advice the problem is ,one I have removed the inlet manifold and two it wouldn't restart it was hydrolocking? with no8 cylinder being full of water

[Knockwurst]

Bad luck John, I sympathise with the steamy exhaust as mine recently did the same. Tried changing inlet gaskets and fettled the faces/checked gaps, but once reassembled, I have confirmed cylinder 7 head gasket failure.

Simon

[Knockwurst]

Ok Julian thanks for the advice the problem is ,one I have removed the inlet manifold and two it wouldn't restart it was hydrolocking? with no8 cylinder being full of water

Same with me

[jamcarr2]

Hi Simon I would love it to be inlet manifold but knowing my luck .............

[jleyton]

Same with me

Yep, it was the same with me a few years ago - I'd just ripped the manifold off straight away.

I refitted the manifold and ensured no water in cylinders (important to avoid possible hydraulic lock). I then started mine and used a block tester, kindly loaned by Milothedog and, lo and behold, the fluid didn't change colour. Phew !! Manifold gaskets changed and all well for a few years.

Good luck.

Cheers

Julian

[jamcarr2]

Thanks for the help Julian that is the way i will go i will let you know how I get on
John

[f100stepside]

Hi yes had the same, loads of smoke and steam from the exhaust. Got a block tester and straight away loads of gases in the water. Rang around the usual experts!, the cost for a full rebuild are between £ 3,500 and £ 6,000 ouch!. Frightened the life out of me, so I'm doing it myself. Take a look at Vitesssteve this gives you loads of info on triumph training manuals.Good luck.Jonathon

[Rubce]

Ah bugger, sorry to hear that John! Hopefully just the inlet manifold gaskets as the guys have suggested.

Regards

Bruce

[flying farmer]

Hi Neil
I did think this myself whilst at work today so when |I got home I whipped the inlet manifold off but all looks ok ,took the spark plug out of no 8 cylinder and water ran out
do you think its worth putting it back together with new gaskets on the inlet manifold and seeing if its ok

Since you have got the manifold off I think you may as well try a new set of inlet manifold gaskets first as the simplest, cheapest option.

If you have any way of applying compressed air to no8 cylinder (at TDC, both valves closed), you should be able to hear air bubbling into the waterways if the cylinder has filled that quickly with water, if it is the head gasket that has failed.

When my head gaskets eventually did fail it was at the back of both rear cylinders, though I don't know which one was actually pressurising the cooling system.

Neil