ok so heres the story ... a lil while back we threw a head gasket on the girlfriends car so i replaced it ... threw another on a few months later so this time the mechanic had it and the head had some work done including all new valves. now before it went to the mechanic it never blew any smoke and ran a real dream but now its back from the mechanic and it smokes heavier than a pack a day smoker, lots and lots.

 

the question is, is there anything that could have gone wrong when they did the work on the head?

Edited February 10, 200917 yr by aidaniel

Did the motor cook when the head gasket went? Maybe the rings/bores are fried. Also I guess there could be the possibility that the mechanic f@$ked up and forgot to install valve stem seals.

nah didnt cook

Maybe compression test it. Better still take it back to the mechanic and make them fix it.

yea but i don't wanna be dudded and have to fork out more $$$ if they say it was an exsiting problem ... just pay $1100 to have the head rebuilt

how many km has the engine done before it went pop ? id be looking at valve stem seals not sealing correctly after such a repair and yes the mechanic will probably try and stiff you for more money.

 

or

 

depending on the amount of km the engine has traveled a small head shave could bump the compression up enough to blow compression past worn glazed bores and rings to cause oil consumption.

 

run engine until at correct operating temp and then let sit for 5 minutes check oil level and make sure it is perfect on the dipstick drive car for 1000km almost exactly and recheck the oil level if low refill gradually until perfect once again but the amount of oil put back into the engine will need to be measured to diagnose the amount of oil consumption you may be having. this will tell you only a few things for starters like yes the engine is using oil.

 

a compression test and inspection of the spark plugs to see if the are being fouled by oil also will give indications.

 

(just a little bit of information) at work we don't usally fix cylinder heads due to the fact 90% of the time the customer comes back with oil burning issues. We just get a whole engine done in one hit new not 2nd hand.

 

as horrible as this may sound doing 1/2 repairs on the cheap somtimes ends up making things worse or causeing another problem.

 

on another note my 1984 4AC died 20,000km ago i got a 2nd motor from the wreckers after compression testingit was ok, it burns some oil but now fixed by thicker oil and as stated its been going strong for 20,000km not a problem i guess so far I'm lucky.

 

 

 

disclaimer before i get flamed by a super mechanical genious, I'm just offering some friendly advice can't really diagnose anything unless the person offering the advice personally gets a change to work on the mentioned problem in person.

ok so the head popped between 3 and 4. so i compression tested today and i got 170 165 165 170. i checked the plugs and 1-3 are fine but theres a small amount of oil on the plug ... 1-3 80-90% burn back and 4 20-30% burn back and wet at the base

 

 

how much is a new engine these days ... i hate working on these and we have the carburated version (1989)

Edited February 11, 200917 yr by aidaniel

yeh sounds like a oil burning issue could try and get the stem seals done again on number 4 to make sure. But also have your mechainc you trust to try and diagnose further.

 

an engine you cannot buy brand new from the factory for these models anymore but rather a reconditioned long motor. The price may hurt the hip pocket ill ask our supplier on cost change over engine. may want to ask you mechanic for a cost from his supplier to compare.

 

getting somone to fit it would be very expensive at the dealer id recomend a quote from a local mechanic to fit

 

price should include from the mechainc oil,coolant, manifold and associated gaskets, sealant ect

 

if its manual the clutch may need doing as it will be swaped over from engine to engine and flywheel machine.

 

it can all be done cheap or expensive cost may determine weather or not its worth it.

 

just a guide to what i went through doing a 2nd hand motor myself with all new gaskets and no cluch or flywheel repair 500 for engine 2nd hand 300 in gaskets seals and timing belt. 40 for oil, 10 oil filter, 30 for coolant.15 for new fuel filter 30 for air filter 15 new fan belt. 2 weeks later replaced change over 2nd hand radiator 40 dollars

 

all up for me 980 without paying for labour as i did it myself seems like alot but when all the little costs are added up there is where it stands.

well the head was supposed to be rebuilt (new valves, skim re shimed) but i was a lil suspisious as to wether they forgot a stem seal or stuffed one up