Scottish Elises

Was getting shopping out of boot and noticed that coolant was sitting mid way between max and min, usually sits at max.
checked under filler cap-looks a bit gunky
HGF? this a main dealer job or a local garage thing? Local boys pretty good and happy to look at the elise
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What does the water look like? Is it similar or clear? How about the dipstick oil?

It is possible to get condensation in the crank case and head which can give a bit of mayo sometimes, keep an eye on the water though, check it comes back up or at least stays put.

HGF is poss DIY but takes quite a while unless you have an experienced SE member on hand....

I could be up for doing a HG with you as I have been told mine is on its way...

Shameful group buy.
Could do them all next Saturday at my place then celebrate Paddys ?

While you've all got your heads off, spend another 450 beans and get the heads properly sorted (includes the skims you'll need to make sure HGF related damage to the head is cleared).

You won't regret it. (Except Paul - his car is obviously fubar (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FUBAR) so he may well need more than that.

Cheers,
Robin

I can skim them for you.

Stu

450 magic beans so defo a AA jobby then! Question is how do I manage to get the AA to recover it on the basis that I think I have a HGF on the way ...

fluid in reservoir seems to still be clear. Had booked the car into local garage due to god-awful rotational grinding noise from the brakes. This noise has now stopped and was consequently going to ask them to do head gasket instead-was gonna order from elise parts next day.
Think will keep off road for now-most of my journeys are short rarely allowing engine to warm up-don't wan to precipitate further damage

Sanjoy wrote:450 magic beans so defo a AA jobby then! Question is how do I manage to get the AA to recover it on the basis that I think I have a HGF on the way ...

Empty the coolant tank and tell them it was overheating so you had to stop

I would not rush into taking them apart,not uncommon to get a bit of condensation inside the engine,clean the cap and keep your eye on it,same with the coolant level,keep an eye on it.If the head does go,you will soon know about it.

early signs are missfire on start up and hissing from header tank when you turn the engine off.

Sanjoy,how did the garage come to the conclusion that your head gasket is going to fail?? Because its a K and that what they do

Stu

Stu160 wrote: Sanjoy,how did the garage come to the conclusion that your head gasket is going to fail?? Because its a K and that what they do

Stu

From my chat telling him that I have a new rad to fit as I have been loosing coolant and then from him noticing the white exhaust vapour and saying that is where all your collant is going.

Ah well,could be then

Stu

Then again it could be a hole in the rad...

Stu160 wrote:I would not rush into taking them apart,not uncommon to get a bit of condensation inside the engine,clean the cap and keep your eye on it,same with the coolant level,keep an eye on it.If the head does go,you will soon know about it.

Good advice from our friendly local engineer. There isn't really any such thing as "preventive HGF maintenance", other than treating your car with respect and also not getting a turbo / super charger conversion

Robin also makes a valid point. If the head is coming off anyway for whatever reason, take the opportunity to get it looked at / breathed on professionally. On basis of current progress, Sabre Heads are your friend. OK so Rog's site needs a bit of work but the important thing is what he does with his flowbench, dremmel and file

Campbell

If the car is not driven regularly then gunk in the cap is very common just coming from moisture in the air. Whenever Ive put in a new engine thats been sitting for a while Ive had gunk build up in the cap for the first few hundred miles.