Cracked head?

[Dirk]

Two cyliders full of water, water in oil pan, rockers covers and filler tube, water pouring out of exhaust.

 

ooops!

 

I could just be unlucky but I do wonder if it is something I have done. Could this be as a result of the following:

 

1. Timing too far advanced?

2. Valve clearances to tight?

3. Exhaust too big?

4. sticky thermostat?

 

I should explain that the thermostat seemed to be sticking shut just long enough for the gauge to read a little over opperating temperature before finally opening properly.

 

Comments and thoughts please?

 

Cheers

 

Dirk

[Caboobaroo]

I bet I know what it is. I've only seen it a couple times in the almost 8 years I've been working on Subarus.

 

If you have the valvecover off of the side thats full of water, check behind the rockers to see if it popped a freeze plug out of the head. My first Subaru was put in a field for 8 years before I got it because of the same issue. I replaced all the gaskets and freeze plugs and she ran like a champ. It was in a '83 FWD 5-speed GL hatchback. I traded it for my '79 4wd wagon later down the road.

[Dirk]

Just checked that but no. They are still intact.

 

I may have exagerated a little about all the water. Think of it more like a lot of emulsified oil.

 

Most of the water seems to be coming out of the exhaust.

 

I'm guessing head gasket or cracked head but a suppose it could be a dodgy inlet manifold gasket.

 

No obvious back pressure/bubbles in the radiator.

[Caboobaroo]

I don't typically see these engines (EA71 and EA81) blow headgaskets as often as the EA82s, or crack heads for that matter. Probably a bad intake manifold gasket. Either a headgasket or a intake gasket, you still gotta remove the intake. Thats where I'd start.

[moosens]

Drain that intake and all using the large Allen head plug underside the passenger side before removing the intake. Let is drain good. Then you can more easily inspect the intake gasket.

[Dirk]

Found it!

 

Broken manifold gasket. Deffinatley the best case senario. The angels are looking after me.

 

I wonder why it failed like that?

 

 

 

I just hope the water in the cylinders has not caused any further problems. I had a couple of water lock situations which I hope haven't caused too much extra stress.

 

Dirk.

[Datsunrides]

 

I wonder why it failed like that?

 

Dirk.

 

Probably just years and years of the engine expanding and contracting.

 

 

I had a couple of water lock situations which I hope haven't caused too much extra stress.

 

Dirk.

 

Well, if it hydrolocked while cranking, you *probably* are OK. If it was running and it did that, expect some bent con rods, to some extent, at the minimum. Water is nasty in that it does not compress, so that force has to go somewhere.

 

Mark

[Dirk]

Cheers Mark.

 

Here's me keeping my fingers crossed.

 

Engine still seems to run fine but I guess I will find out soon enough.

 

Luckily I have scored a replacement engine for a box of beer so I do have a backup plan.

 

Cheers

 

Dirk.

[Dirk]

I guess a compression test would be a reliable way for testing damage.

[Datsunrides]

Not really. Unless you tear down the engine, you will usually find out about a bent rod by catastrophic failure, either by the rod physically breaking or a piston/wristpin letting go due to excessive side loading because of the bent rod. Neither situation is pleasant.

 

Mark

[Dirk]

New gaskets on, engine flushed through a couple of times. Fresh oil and filter.

 

All seems ok. A little moisture still in the engine but that should burn off pretty quick, especially in this dry climate.

 

I suspect the faulty thermostat is to blame for the gasket failure. Replacing this tomorrow.

 

Other than that, I think I got away with it. Time will tell.

 

A warning to others. Coolant in the oil can eat away at the bearings. Best to remove it ASAP.