[foonji]

Should I waste my money on this stuff as I go to buy another bottle of oil?

http://www.nulon.com.au/products/Engine_Stop_Leak/ or equivalent brand?

I have an annoying leak that contributes to around 1l loss every ~1000km on the head gasket which I'm not going to fix anytime soon.

Does this shit work or just a $12 gimmick?

[shep]

that product stopped the cam seals leaking on my challenger for 120,000km

[lump_a_charcoal]

I use it every year or so, it works by swelling seals, and can stop leaks pretty well.

[foonji]

Ok kewl, I will give it a go then. Thanks.

[royce]

clean the leak up and get a pic, thats a severe head gasket leak

[foonji]

Well maybe not 1000km, but probably 1200-1500km.

It's under no.4 exhaust have to get under to see it, cleaned it a few weeks back.

[foonji]

Some pics...

Under Exhaust No.4


Under Exhaust No.1 Looking Back


Front of Engine / Head Gasket


Sump gasket is probably a little leaky too

[lump_a_charcoal]

OK that stuff won't help you.

Looks like you need a head gasket - You might be able to try Barr's stop leak, as that stuff looks like oily water. Pulling the head off is probably the best way forwards.

[foonji]

lump_a_charcoal wrote:

OK that stuff won't help you.

Looks like you need a head gasket - You might be able to try Barr's stop leak, as that stuff looks like oily water. Pulling the head off is probably the best way forwards.

Could it be a day job?

Never done it before and I don't have spare cash to pay someone to do it at the moment.

While it's off should anything else be done?

[Zook_Fan]

if you pull an alloy head off you should get it machined flat again so not really a day job. all the work can be done in a day but most machining shops will take longer than a day to get around to it

[foonji]

Zook_Fan wrote:

if you pull an alloy head off you should get it machined flat again so not really a day job. all the work can be done in a day but most machining shops will take longer than a day to get around to it

Ok, What is that usually worth?

[Zook_Fan]

I got quoted $230 for my gemini head but i think that included hardened valve seats. From memory it is only around the $150 mark tops but I might be off there. Give a couple of shops a call and ask

[Brett]

you should get it machined but you'll be fine if you dont. its not going to get any worse than it is. make sure you clean all the old gasket off and use some gasket spray.

do the timing belt while the head is off and maybe the water pump. you can do it all in a day, just take your time and make sure the head bolts go back in the hole they came out of.

[lukes_89]

stop leak stuff has worked on my old honda got it through roady but no way leaking that much

[steak_knife]

I'd be looking at the cam seal before pulling the head off.

[foonji]

Ok, If I have the spare dosh at the time I'll get it machined, I did the waterpump a few months ago so thats all good.

steknig wrote:

I'd be looking at the cam seal before pulling the head off.

Thanks Stekky, I'll look into that as well.

I'm no expert, might hit it again with more degreaser and get one of you guys to have a look for me

[royce]

x7, thats cam and crank seal in the front and I would put money on the rear being the dizzy housing o ring

[foonji]

Cheers Royce, That sounds better.

Now whats the difficulty rating on replacing those?

[royce]

the front seals are the same as doing the waterpump plus removing the pulleys and seals, few hours work and nothing hard

the rear one you mark the dizzy spot and pull the housing off the back of the head and fit a new oring and put it all together and fiddle a bit till its lined up again, or if you are lazy like me, slide it off a bit, fill the gap where the oring goes with silicone and do it back up

[steak_knife]

royce wrote:

the front seals are the same as doing the waterpump plus removing the pulleys and seals, few hours work and nothing hard

the rear one you mark the dizzy spot and pull the housing off the back of the head and fit a new oring and put it all together and fiddle a bit till its lined up again, or if you are lazy like me, slide it off a bit, fill the gap where the oring goes with silicone and do it back up :)

That's never worked for me, well the one time I tryed anyway.

[royce]

currently working well on teh vit, you have to do it properly and clean it with whatever is handy and let it set you know

[steak_knife]

royce wrote:

currently working well on teh vit, you have to do it properly and clean it with whatever is handy and let it set you know

You & your fancy word's.

[foonji]

Ok front sounds easy, as long as I don't screw the timing the dizzy should be ok too.

Cheers

[foonji]

foonji wrote:

Front of Engine / Head Gasket

Looking at this today, I noticed that it had a green tinge.. so coolant can't be good