tech@ucf-cs.UUCP (Electronic technician) (02/24/86)
does anybody out there know an easy way to tell if the
water in my oil comes from a cracked block, cracked head,
or a blown head gasket? Of course I suppose it's possible
that something else could be causing this, but I don't know
what.
The car is an 1980 omega :-( and has been a real problem
but, alas, it was my only way to work. Any help would be
greatly appreciated. I want to avoid taking the head off
if I can tell beforehand that the block is the problem.
Tony Travaglini {decvax,akgua}!ucf-cs!techfbr@utastro.UUCP (Frank Ray) (02/25/86)
In article <2270@ucf-cs.UUCP>, tech@ucf-cs.UUCP (Electronic technician) writes: > > > does anybody out there know an easy way to tell if the > water in my oil comes from a cracked block, cracked head, > or a blown head gasket? Of course I suppose it's possible > that something else could be causing this, but I don't know > what. > > The car is an 1980 omega :-( and has been a real problem > but, alas, it was my only way to work. Any help would be > greatly appreciated. I want to avoid taking the head off > if I can tell beforehand that the block is the problem. > > Tony Travaglini {decvax,akgua}!ucf-cs!tech Yes. Attach a cooling system pressure tester to the radiator inlet. A rapid buildup in pressure indicates a blown head gasket. If a water passage is cracked in an area that is remote from cylinder pressure, the seepage will be more gradual, due to the normal pressure buildup in the cooling system overriding the crankcase pressure. If the car has aluminum alloy castings in the engine, sometimes cracks will open up in these under thermal stress and allow fluids to pass, and then appear normal as the block (or head) cools down. I had a VW which did this. If on the pressure test, you see pulsations, that's got to be cylinder leakage. Slight warping of the block and/or head will cause the head gasket to leak. One thing to try temporarily is to torque the head bolts another 10% or so, but if the gasket is leaking badly there's not much to do but to replace it. fbr@utastro.UUCP
marauder@fluke.UUCP (Bill Landsborough) (03/04/86)
In article <2270@ucf-cs.UUCP> tech@ucf-cs.UUCP (Electronic technician) writes: > > > does anybody out there know an easy way to tell if the > water in my oil comes from a cracked block, cracked head, > or a blown head gasket? Of course I suppose it's possible > that something else could be causing this, but I don't know > what. > Tony Travaglini {decvax,akgua}!ucf-cs!tech I would suggest doing a compression test of all cylinders. A blown head gasket from the cylinder to the water jacket will show little to no compression especially when the engine is turned over slower than the normal speed for a compression check. Also I believe that almost all water/oil leaks are caused by head related damage so a "gamble" would be in your favor to pull the head and look. Bill Landsborough ---- "Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude... Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." 1 Corinthians 13:4-7