What are the chances?

james22 · 01-07-2009, 09:28 AM

Long story short. I cooked the living hell outta my xr8 yesterday.

A few weeks ago, my friend was having a problem blowing fuses. I ended up pulling a couple of 10amp fuses out of my car to help him out.

So yesterday, I thought I would start my car up like I usually do every month or so (just to keep batt charged etc)

I walked away from it, and came back 25-30mins later (after being distracted by the handyman) to find hell itself present and waiting for me in the carport.

It was that hot, the coolant was boiling and there was steam everywhere. I immediatly turned the car off, and noticed the gauge was quite literally off the scale (well past the red point).

After thinking about this for a moment, I knew my mistake. The 10amp fuse I pulled out was for ABS.... I knew i didn't need that as i was not driving the car. Pulled out the handbook.... Fuse No. 7 - ABS & COOLING FANS - excuse me *beep* effin *beep* beep *

So what are the chances that I have done damage?

I re-connected the fuse, and took it for a drive. It ran perfectly fine, but there was a massive amount of water that came out of my exhaust. The car has been sitting for ages, so it could be condensation, but there was quite alot, 600ML or so at least.

ah bugger.....

RG · 01-07-2009, 09:35 AM

Head gasket me thinks at the least. That's what, 120 degrees plus?

This isn't a good thing James.

james22 · 01-07-2009, 09:53 AM

Yeah I know. She was really cooked, and god knows how long it was boiling for... before i found it. Head gasket at least??? whats the worst case scenario?

RG · 01-07-2009, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by james22

Yeah I know. She was really cooked, and god knows how long it was boiling for... before i found it. Head gasket at least??? whats the worst case scenario?

Worst case is that you've really cooked it and the metal has gone soft.

If you were thinking about alloy heads I reckon now is a good time for them. Getting that hot for who knows how long and losing water through pressure is not a good thing. If it had alloy heads they would have cracked, cast iron is stronger but I wouldn't discount head damage. In fact I'd say it is highly likely.

I wouldn't be driving it until I get it all checked, there is a small chance that it'll be ok but I doubt it mate.

james22 · 01-07-2009, 10:03 AM

How do i check them? Apart from a compression test? What sort of head damage? Just warped or fatal damage? Valves etc?

I'm sort of freakin a bit. Like i said it ran fine, except for a lot of water out the exhaust... It did stop after i gave the car a few revs though....

RG · 01-07-2009, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by james22

How do i check them? Apart from a compression test? What sort of head damage? Just warped or fatal damage? Valves etc?

I'm sort of freakin a bit. Like i said it ran fine, except for a lot of water out the exhaust... It did stop after i gave the car a few revs though....

A compression test would be first on my list. Possible head damage could be anything from a warp to a crack to the metal going "soft".

james22 · 01-07-2009, 10:23 AM

bugger bloody effin.... grrr

james22 · 01-07-2009, 10:25 AM

So if I do a compression test and it fails. Where do i go from there? How can i tell if I cracked it or if its gone soft?

RG · 01-07-2009, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by james22

So if I do a compression test and it fails. Where do i go from there? How can i tell if I cracked it or if its gone soft?

By pulling the heads off and sending them to a specialist to get tested.

james22 · 01-07-2009, 10:43 AM

I'll do the compression test after lunch... bugger

james22 · 01-07-2009, 10:44 AM

On average, how much can you shave off the heads before running into P/V issues?

RG · 01-07-2009, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by james22

On average, how much can you shave off the heads before running into P/V issues?

Not sure on a figure but there's a little bit there. Mine had a shave before they went back on in the 347 build.

GK · 01-07-2009, 02:33 PM

Not good news at all. I hope it's the very best case scenario.

Let us know the state of play.

GK

james22 · 01-07-2009, 02:50 PM

ok.... first results are in....

Cylinder's 1 to 4 - all have steam cleaned plugs :-(

Pressures.... preety hard to get right, my compression tester won't screw into the cylinders... not enough thread... but...

1 = 128

2 = 140

3 = 155

4 = 130

so maybe not looking too good.

bugger bugger eff beep damn

james22 · 01-07-2009, 03:49 PM

done the test again. Cylinder 1 is now down to 100psi.

Talking to my uncle (mechanic) and he seems to think there is a good chance i may have fried the rings.

He told me to put oil into the cylinders and retest. If pressure goes back up, i fried the rings or valve's (i think)

If it stays the same, maybe just the gasket.

He also said for anyone that does this in the future, that if you pull your headear tank cap off and start the car, if it is a blown headgasket, it will literally blow the water out of the tank. if its bad.

RG · 01-07-2009, 03:54 PM

Mate no good and I'm sorry to hear. Get it all checked so you're 100% sure what has happened and then go from there.

It really is all you can do at this point. Chin up, I know exactly how you feel.

ten[A]cio[U]s · 01-07-2009, 03:58 PM

Mate that's a massive pain! Hope its an easy-ish fix!

BlacklistedXR · 01-07-2009, 04:10 PM

Not good mate. I think you should be hoping that it is just a headgasket. Best of luck and let us know how you go.

BOTTLEDUP · 01-07-2009, 04:54 PM

Your uncle is correct, if it is a really bad overheat then you can cause the rings to lose their tension, butt ends and even start melting pistons. If the compression is down as low as you say its time to pull the engine and assess it properly.

james22 · 01-07-2009, 06:30 PM

new pressures... need some advice?

1 = 98

2 = 133 odd

3 = 163

4 = 125

should i even bother testing the other bank? these figures are from the drivers side bank, i would only assume the other side is going to be worse due to the coolant flow direction.

Should i just start pulling it down?

P.S - Thanks for the reply's everyone :-). I feel so bummed out right now. She ran perfectly like new. only 130,000km on her and now its effed due to a stupid silly mistake

james22 · 01-07-2009, 07:09 PM

I'm gonna start pulling it down unless anyone else thinks i should leave it to do a compression test on the other bank?

cheers

james

JC · 01-07-2009, 08:31 PM

If you don't drive it, and you can pull it down and put it together yourself, then pull it down; it's the only way to know exactly ow much damage you've done.

galaxy xr8 · 01-07-2009, 08:34 PM

Either way if the compression is stuffed on one bank it doesn't really matter what the other side is going to tell you, the damage is allready done.
Sorry to hear mate, maybe you should invest in a battery charger.

**DJM83** · 01-07-2009, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by galaxy xr8

Either way if the compression is stuffed on one bank it doesn't really matter what the other side is going to tell you, the damage is allready done.
Sorry to hear mate, maybe you should invest in a battery charger.

Yeah i agree if the DS bank is stuffed the PS is aswell IMO if you dont drive it James pull it down and maybe a 347ci is in order just dont follow Russells build thread ive never seen so much trouble poor bugger. Let us know how you go mate

RG · 01-07-2009, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJM83

Yeah i agree if the DS bank is stuffed the PS is aswell IMO if you dont drive it James pull it down and maybe a 347ci is in order just dont follow Russells build thread ive never seen so much trouble poor bugger. Let us know how you go mate

I'm not sure whether to say ouch or thanks...

James build a 347 but read my thread from start to finish. Once you have done that do the exact opposite of what I did and you'll be fine.

MADED-6 · 01-07-2009, 09:28 PM

yeah no good mate hope u can sort it.
but as said if funds permit go all out and do a nice 347 if u do most of it urself ul learn alot and ul be able to make sure the engine is 100%.
cheers josh.

**DJM83** · 01-07-2009, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RG

I'm not sure whether to say ouch or thanks...

James build a 347 but read my thread from start to finish. Once you have done that do the exact opposite of what I did and you'll be fine.

That would be a thanks mate

: i meant it as you have had a rough trot with your XR thats for sure.

mik · 02-07-2009, 01:02 AM

thats a bit of bad luck after you did a good deed to help a friend, i don`t know your circumstances , but im thinking perhaps if your motor needs a lot of dollars check crate motor prices, i can remember thinking after doing mine a clevo years ago that by the time i had every thing machined, new parts etc etc a crate motor would have been not much more and possibly even cheaper.

SLO AU XR8 · 02-07-2009, 12:29 PM

which fuse is that which you pulled, in the engine bay or interior? as my AU has no ABS and the Thermo's don't work

InfernoSR · 02-07-2009, 01:48 PM

JAMES!!! What did you do to my heads??!!! damn, now i need to get alloy ones now! :( which i may have had to do with a stroker at any rate...

Sounds like your block might be unharmed aleast, which is a good thing... and this means that we can build strokers together... i'll give you a call up soon my friend...