My luck is atrocious.

InvaderGIR · 4 Mar 2014 at 08:05

Fuzz said:
Did you just say a 3/8 to 1/4 drive converter to get the head bolts off!!!!!!!!

No wonder it snapped

Don't use 1/4 drive on head bolts! LOL

I'm wondering if rhe OP even has access to a torque wrench for doing them up to be honest, I'd guess if he did, he'd probably be using that to undo them.

BoonMonkey · 4 Mar 2014 at 09:54

Matt-Page said:
£65 is a bargain with that already done.

Ask local garages where they get it done, and go direct. Cleaning the injectors is well worth it. What is that the breather pipe is connected to? I'd want to find out how the oil and gunk is in there. What are the oil seals like on the turbo??

Having seen the pictures

I thought so!

The seals are looking okay, but potentially worth changing regardless.

Fuzz said:
Did you just say a 3/8 to 1/4 drive converter to get the head bolts off!!!!!!!!

No wonder it snapped

Don't use 1/4 drive on head bolts! LOL

I didn't mention 3/8

The E14 Torx bit we have is 1/4" drive.

The breaker bar is 1/2"

InvaderGIR said:
I'm wondering if rhe OP even has access to a torque wrench for doing them up to be honest, I'd guess if he did, he'd probably be using that to undo them.

We do indeed have a torque wrench, but why would I undo bolts with that? o_O

Matt-Page · 7 Mar 2014 at 01:15

How you getting on pal?

Any more investigation on why those intake pipes are blocked with sludge?

pepsilol · 7 Mar 2014 at 09:26

ILuvPancake said:
Did you just say a 3/8 to 1/4 drive converter to get the head bolts off!!!!!!!!

No wonder it snapped

Don't use 1/4 drive on head bolts! LOL

Come on, look at the tool kit. Give him a break

BoonMonkey · 7 Mar 2014 at 10:04

Matt-Page said:
How you getting on pal?

Any more investigation on why those intake pipes are blocked with sludge?

Well, basically we got it all apart again and noticed that the sealant from the old head gasket hadn't spread properly (probably due to the rain/dirt still on the block when putting it on). Cleaned it up nicely with with tips suggested above, made sure it was 100% clean before doing anything else. When I was happy, back together it went!

Got it all together again and it starts perfectly. However there is one water pipe that seems to have a split in it. The pipe was previously glued by a different owner, but that glue had come off when disconnecting it, so right now water is just spewing over the floor. Other than that though it's running spot on (only from standing, not driven it anywhere yet and not going to till that pipe is sorted!). Just need to try find a replacement for it now!

pepsilol said:
Come on, look at the tool kit. Give him a break

I went out and got a better kit a few days back actually!

Only a socket set with some spanners and whatever else, was on offer in Halfords and actually pretty good quality for the money!

The socket we need to undo/tighten the head bolts still needs the converter though!

Jakus · 7 Mar 2014 at 10:29

Did you get any pictures of this headgasket not sealing ?

Not quite sure what you mean, I was going to suggest from those pictures if you use silicon sealer on other parts just a little 1mm or less line is needed on a dead clean surface.

BoonMonkey · 7 Mar 2014 at 10:35

Jakus said:
Did you get any pictures of this headgasket not sealing ?

Not quite sure what you mean, I was going to suggest from those pictures if you use silicon sealer on other parts just a little 1mm or less line is needed on a dead clean surface.

I didn't as my phone was flat at the time.

Basically, I don't know if this helps, but if you ran your finger across the block very slightly, you could feel imperfections, we cleaned it up so that they were gone and it had a completely flat surface to sit on.

Jakus · 7 Mar 2014 at 11:09

BoonMonkey said:
I didn't as my phone was flat at the time.

Basically, I don't know if this helps, but if you ran your finger across the block very slightly, you could feel imperfections, we cleaned it up so that they were gone and it had a completely flat surface to sit on.

Ok, good, Yes lesson learnt, without a perfect flat clean surface you have no chance.

Don't forget the Antifreeze or everything will start corroding again the minute you put water in.

BoonMonkey · 7 Mar 2014 at 11:17

Jakus said:
Ok, good, Yes lesson learnt, without a perfect flat clean surface you have no chance.

Don't forget the Antifreeze or everything will start corroding again the minute you put water in.

Could I get away without putting Anti-freeze in straight away just until we're certain there aren't any external leaks still?

Jakus · 7 Mar 2014 at 11:48

BoonMonkey said:
Could I get away without putting Anti-freeze in straight away just until we're certain there aren't any external leaks still?

Would you let any water get on that block after you cleaned it ? ..what's the difference the water has access to lots of clean raw unprotected metal.

Many others think the same because it's sealed up all is good

Fuzz · 7 Mar 2014 at 20:31

Sealer on the headgasket WUT!

Outcast · 7 Mar 2014 at 21:59

ILuvPancake said:
Sealer on the headgasket WUT!

I was thinking the same thing !

Instant gasket maybe !

BoonMonkey · 7 Mar 2014 at 23:40

ILuvPancake said:
Sealer on the headgasket WUT!

Outcast said:
I was thinking the same thing !

Instant gasket maybe !

What seems to happen is that the once the head gasket is torqued down and the engine gets hot some silicone-like stuff is spread. It was on the block when we took it apart first time we changed the gasket and also there again once we took it apart this time round. I assumed it spreads once it heats up but idk

BoonMonkey · 10 Mar 2014 at 09:37

Update: Car is back together fully again! Found out that the over filling of oil was not fully to blame for the lack of power, or at least I believe it wasn't. One of the turbo pipes had split... massively. Had to order one in from Ford and collect it on Saturday.

After it all went back together I gave it a check for leaks, there was nothing at all. Good stuff!

Put in the anti-freeze and made sure the oil was at the right level it should be and then took the car out to test! Started up perfectly, no strange noises or anything from the engine (Always a bonus), noticed immediately that the power it used to have was back, the car wasn't sluggish at all. Gave it a test for about an hour or so.

Once I got the car back home I let it stand for a while so that it could cool down. Few hours later I went to check the situation. No pressure in the expansion tank, water level was still okay, oil looked good still (not mayonnaise-like). Just gotta see how it goes!

SkodaMart · 10 Mar 2014 at 09:41

You make your own luck to a great extent.

I found myself with no money and a clapped out Fiesta at one point.
A trip to Halfords for a Haynes manual and a socket set.

12 months later I had almost rebuilt the car, it was sweet as a nut, took me touring all round the Scottish Highlands.

Those skills have served me well and Ii still repair my own vehicles today.

In a nutshell - spend a load of cash and buy something new, Jap or VW or even a Kia.

Or learn to do it yourself.

BoonMonkey · 10 Mar 2014 at 09:53

SkodaMart said:
You make your own luck to a great extent.

I found myself with no money and a clapped out Fiesta at one point.
A trip to Halfords for a Haynes manual and a socket set.

12 months later I had almost rebuilt the car, it was sweet as a nut, took me touring all round the Scottish Highlands.

Those skills have served me well and Ii still repair my own vehicles today.

In a nutshell - spend a load of cash and buy something new, Jap or VW or even a Kia.

Or learn to do it yourself.

The learn to do it yourself has been a huge help. I know so much more about that car now than I did beforehand, I'm sure the skills will be transferable also.

mattyprice4004 · 10 Mar 2014 at 10:02

I find all this head gasket talk un-nerving - we all know only Rovers have HGF.

SkodaMart · 10 Mar 2014 at 10:19

BoonMonkey said:
The learn to do it yourself has been a huge help. I know so much more about that car now than I did beforehand, I'm sure the skills will be transferable also.

Enjoy the journey!

I have never taken a car to be serviced yet and I have owned brand new cars.

I just keep all the receipts for parts and keep a record of the work that has been done.

Look forward to the day when you have cash to get a reliable car and only have to change the oil and change brake pads etc.

Jakus · 10 Mar 2014 at 11:16

BoonMonkey said:
Update: Car is back together fully again! Found out that the over filling of oil was not fully to blame for the lack of power, or at least I believe it wasn't. One of the turbo pipes had split... massively. Had to order one in from Ford and collect it on Saturday.

After it all went back together I gave it a check for leaks, there was nothing at all. Good stuff!

Put in the anti-freeze and made sure the oil was at the right level it should be and then took the car out to test! Started up perfectly, no strange noises or anything from the engine (Always a bonus), noticed immediately that the power it used to have was back, the car wasn't sluggish at all. Gave it a test for about an hour or so.

Once I got the car back home I let it stand for a while so that it could cool down. Few hours later I went to check the situation. No pressure in the expansion tank, water level was still okay, oil looked good still (not mayonnaise-like). Just gotta see how it goes!

Good, so did you put that other head on or was it just that you did not clean up the block well enough ?

If all is well most of the remaining water should evaporate on a long run if the oil gets hot enough

BoonMonkey · 10 Mar 2014 at 11:38

Jakus said:
Good, so did you put that other head on or was it just that you did not clean up the block well enough ?

If all is well most of the remaining water should evaporate on a long run if the oil gets hot enough

Went ahead and put the new head on regardless. I'll keep the old one as a spare and make sure it's all prepped nicely in case anything does happen down the line and I end up needing it!

It could well have been that the old head is cracked but we can't spot anything whatsoever on it at all. So I presume it was the fact that the block wasn't cleaned properly!