[shakes]

I'm being optimistic here. Help me be optimistic

Took the white wombat for its first every proper drive over the weekend. was driven a couple weekends ~18 months ago. and unknown before that.

Day 1 - 6hours driving, 75% low range. Temp gauge didnt budge. Found a heap of nice coagulated oily mess under the radiator cap.
Day 2 - Similar distance, Temp gauge didnt budge. Found a small rainbow on top of the coolant.

No evidence of water in the oil. Evidence of gasket goop everywhere related to previous head gasket replacement.

I'm going to flush it out a couple times and hope for the best. What are my chances?

Edit: rebuild time!

[Gwagensteve]

50/50 I reckon.

So do you not know it's history prior to 18 months ago? If it had done a head gasket relatively recently there could well be residual oil in the coolant passages that will show as a rainbow. (as opposed to sludge or milkshake) a car that hasn't been driven for 18 months will have a heap of condensation in the motor which will show on the oil cap.

[shakes]

Cheer's. That's about what I thought.

Nope. Dad purchased the car from someone down gembrook / yarra valley direction. ~ 18months ago. No one knew the owner on the Suzuki club Facey page (its a white swb Vitara with a mack hood ornament)

He did a couple of weekenders in it, then got too sick to drive it.

I've finally fixed it up enough to get a proper rwc and here we are.

[Gwagensteve]

yeah OK. It's not a great sign that there's gasket goo everywhere - In my experience G16A's don't seem to like having their head gaskets replaced (I think because they're never decked with a torque plate installed, because money, but I would have thought it would have shown pretty clearly with 12 hours driving.

[shakes]

Thanks.

I'll sort a leakdown / compression test, and do a few flushes and hope for the best.

[BlueSuzy]

Wasn't a liquid headgasket was it?... Those sealants in the bottle will make a mess of everything.

Good ol g16's

[shakes]

BlueSuzy wrote:

Wasn't a liquid headgasket was it?... Those sealants in the bottle will make a mess of everything.

Good ol g16's

Possibility. Can it show up as sludge or oil etc in coolant? I’ve never used it / seen it used.

[BlueSuzy]

It's designed to float around the system and block things. Browny bronze but would depend on brand. I haven't seen it in the coolant with a running engine, but I have seen it in a block etc. With engine removed.

[Erik]

Question

I've heard refenrences to G16's not feeling the love of rebuilds as they have an open deck.
Does it mean a full cooling jacket around the cylinders or am I missing something?
And here's a pic which shows galleries - please enlighten me - I have one that needs some love but unsure if the result would be shite
?

[shakes]

Ok.

Another weekends driving. 6 + 6hrs give or take.
Nothing to silly though, but a few of the heavier cars had to winch cause slick red clay.

I’ve fitted a cheap saas gauge to get a better idea. In-line in upper radiator hose.

It’s suggesting there isn’t a thermostat in the car. - max temp 60c and takes forever to hit that temp. Don’t see t-stat open at all. This also aligns with the factory gauge always sitting low.

Ill order and fit a new thermostat over next few weeks and try again.
Little nervous the extra pressure in the system from hitting 90c-ish.

[shakes]

Didnt realise its so long since updates.

Log book indicated I've only driven it 12 times in the last 12 months.

- New thermostat
- Verified temp gauge as accurate.
- Flushed coolant with water ALOT (with heater core open)

Another full weekend. Mix of fully loaded camping , hard wheeling and fire roads.
6 hours freeway. several hours in the bush.
Highest temp on gauge was 70c, and lowest was 45c.
No shroud on the radiator.
Still getting coolant appearing (and what i'm hoping is sealant) in the water, which makes me think things aren't circulating properly.
But cant see how a bad water pump would cause low temps. Cant get my head around it.

[shakes]

Well. Just had my question answered. Steaming turd blew it's top near Mt Terrible.

It's currently sitting in Mansfield RACV waiting for a back load to Melbs.

Where too from.here? Head checked and new head gasket?
Send it with a Wrexkers long motor?
Chances I've got a cracked head (or block)?

I'm going to keep the car alive, don't have the current facilities to do a silly engine conversion so it'll be staying stock-ish.

[sideways]

Pull the timing belt off and make sure the cam turns freely in the head still, they can warp and go tight on the cam. If that's the case then you probably need to find a new head, you might be able to find an old school head mob that can straighten it.

Pull the head, put a straight edge over the block especially where it's blown. No point in putting the head back on if there's a big low spot.

Honestly these days I reckon any second hand g16 is probably going to be a case of same shit, different engine number. I'd want to rebuild what I've got and know it was done right.

Then once it's done get an overheat alarm, set it to 95 and never let it get hotter than that.

[shakes]

Good tip on the cam, hadn't thought of that. And I think your right with rebuilds.

I only knew something was wrong when my temp gauge dropped from 82 to 40 and it started running like a pile of shit.
Turned car off almost immediately to find the engine bay steaming.
Between that and older wierd low temps, I'm expecting to find coolant passages blocked and/or bypassed somehow, but I cant get my head around it yet.