head gone wrong

decroyffe · Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2007 5:12 pm Post subject: head gone wrong

last night i got my 94 fourtrak back from the garage. i had a new head gasket set and had the head tested and skimmed.

when i got home i topped up the water in the radiator, and this morning went shooting. at dinner i had to top up the water again because it was empty and again this evening. i cant understand why the temp gauge doesn't show it over heating and where the water is going.

there's no water in the oil and no white smoke from the rear. if i leave the engine running water comes out of the radiator even with the cap on, until the water level runs low?

can anyone please help. the work was under guarantee so it will go back, at the minute i need a bit of reassurance, thanks

CJ · Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2007 5:24 pm Post subject:

Hi Mate, doesn't sound good, if its pushing water past the cap either the cap is gubbed or there is excessive pressure in the cooling system. What is the temperature gauge reading & is the heater hot? Was the thermostat changed. It could be air locked but 4tracks are not bad for it.

CJ.

decroyffe · Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2007 5:27 pm Post subject:

hiya cj, not sure if the heaters are blowning hot, i'll check. the thermostat wasn't changed even tho i asked them to check it. the cap is a quite worn, i did take a new one to the garage but they forgot to change it. got some issue's with them that need sorting

decroyffe · Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2007 5:43 pm Post subject:

heaters are blowing cold with the temp gauge at half way. i've noticed a steady flow of water coming from under the front end whilst the engine is running, that reduces to a steady drip when the engine is off, so there's a leak some where.

CJ · Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2007 5:45 pm Post subject:

If the heater is good & hot it means the coolant is circulating, if its cold or mildly warm then theres a circulation issue. If the cap is not holding pressure then the water will just push past it very quickly. I had a customers 4track in overheating big time, he had replaced the thermostat himself with no joy. all it was, was the radiator was choked externally with mud & dirty water. a gentle powerwash from both sides cured it.
Hope u get it sorted,

CJ. Wink

CJ · Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2007 5:47 pm Post subject:

Best get it back & let them double check it.

CJ.

decroyffe · Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2007 5:52 pm Post subject:

thanks cj, i'll do that tomorrow

bundyrumandcoke · Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2007 1:33 am Post subject:

Temperature gauges dont indicate if the senders are not in water, ie if it leaks out, the gauge wont show overheating.

decroyffe · Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2007 7:30 am Post subject:

Thanks bundyrumandcoke, that's just explained quite a lot. with the info you and Cj have given me i can go back to the garage this morning with some ammo, regards kieran

decroyffe · Posted: Wed Jan 24, 2007 11:11 am Post subject:

It's become very clear. there's a small leak coming from the radiator, i'm guessing that's the reason the head cracked in the first place, i've run it with no water. as said by bundyrumandcoke there will have been no true reading letting me know that the temp was sky high because of the lack of water in the system.

I can only hope now that there's no damage to the head this time. should have it done thursday evening or friday morning, fingers crossed.