Have read almost all the threads on this topic I could find on here, and am grateful to you all for the wealth of knowledge on here.
Questions Up Front:
1) any quick and dirty tests for this (other than what I've done below, which seems to confirm exhaust in the coolant circuit)
2) anyone have a consolidated parts list? I saw that RenChing recommended new valve seals at the same time as gasket replacement, and am wondering if anyone's got a one-stop list of part numbers and recommended suppliers. I am pretty sure)I need a gasket; should I order new bolts as well as valve seals? My gasket's a two-hole model, for whatever that's worth.
3) thoughts on what to look for in a machine shop to check the head? Will anywhere that checks heads be able to check and, if necessary, skim this? Or will they be like, "what engine did you say that was from????"
Background:
Engine was rebuilt (Urban Land Cruisers/Rovers, or whoever they use for their rebuilds) before installation--only about 15k miles ago. Having read RenChing's account of his gasket failure, it occurs to me that mine's been "chuffing" at highway speeds/under heavy use since I got it in. So maybe this has been a problem for some time. . .
but today, after only about five miles, my Madman EMS started freaking out--low coolant (sender is at t-stat housing plug), and then, shortly after that, engine temp.
Turned her off immediately and got towed home. Filled and bled coolant system, started engine with reservoir cap off--instant geyser, followed by mild turbulence and some vapor escaping that didn't smell particularly like exhaust at idle. Put my hand over filler hole to see if there was excess pressure--initially, nothing, then sudden increase in pressure and a huge geyser. This was all done with a cold (well, 95 degrees like it is outside today) engine.
In retrospect, I remember noticing some unusual and oddly pale smoke going up past the back window when in 5th gear at maybe 50mph on a hill and under heavy peda right before the madman started going nutsl, so I think that means coolant in combustion chambers, although at the time I just thought, "huh, I didn't notice that before--I should increase pre-load on the boost spring in the fuel pump . . ."
No coolant obvious in oil, nor oil in coolant at this point.
Radiator was replaced last week by a marginally qualified mechanic (old one blew up so far from home it was cheaper to have it hauled to a rover-oriented place than home) and they did a crap job of bleeding the system, which I discovered when I showed up to pick the truck up and immediately rectified in the parking lot, getting at least 1.25 liters of air out of the system at the t-stat housing. . . . possibly connected to this failure, or maybe just correlated. . .
Sorry I seem to be completely incapable of writing short, pithy posts.
Questions Up Front:
1) any quick and dirty tests for this (other than what I've done below, which seems to confirm exhaust in the coolant circuit)
2) anyone have a consolidated parts list? I saw that RenChing recommended new valve seals at the same time as gasket replacement, and am wondering if anyone's got a one-stop list of part numbers and recommended suppliers. I am pretty sure)I need a gasket; should I order new bolts as well as valve seals? My gasket's a two-hole model, for whatever that's worth.
3) thoughts on what to look for in a machine shop to check the head? Will anywhere that checks heads be able to check and, if necessary, skim this? Or will they be like, "what engine did you say that was from????"
Background:
Engine was rebuilt (Urban Land Cruisers/Rovers, or whoever they use for their rebuilds) before installation--only about 15k miles ago. Having read RenChing's account of his gasket failure, it occurs to me that mine's been "chuffing" at highway speeds/under heavy use since I got it in. So maybe this has been a problem for some time. . .
but today, after only about five miles, my Madman EMS started freaking out--low coolant (sender is at t-stat housing plug), and then, shortly after that, engine temp.
Turned her off immediately and got towed home. Filled and bled coolant system, started engine with reservoir cap off--instant geyser, followed by mild turbulence and some vapor escaping that didn't smell particularly like exhaust at idle. Put my hand over filler hole to see if there was excess pressure--initially, nothing, then sudden increase in pressure and a huge geyser. This was all done with a cold (well, 95 degrees like it is outside today) engine.
In retrospect, I remember noticing some unusual and oddly pale smoke going up past the back window when in 5th gear at maybe 50mph on a hill and under heavy peda right before the madman started going nutsl, so I think that means coolant in combustion chambers, although at the time I just thought, "huh, I didn't notice that before--I should increase pre-load on the boost spring in the fuel pump . . ."
No coolant obvious in oil, nor oil in coolant at this point.
Radiator was replaced last week by a marginally qualified mechanic (old one blew up so far from home it was cheaper to have it hauled to a rover-oriented place than home) and they did a crap job of bleeding the system, which I discovered when I showed up to pick the truck up and immediately rectified in the parking lot, getting at least 1.25 liters of air out of the system at the t-stat housing. . . . possibly connected to this failure, or maybe just correlated. . .
Sorry I seem to be completely incapable of writing short, pithy posts.