VT - How to see if I have a cracked head?

[Orpheus]

I did a cooling system flush about a week ago and just left tap water in it so I can try see if I really have a broken head, What are the 100% indications I have a broken head?

[itsagixa]

if the leak is internal or near an oil gallery then you will have a white sludge on the dipstick

[TI3VOM]

You're car would overheat very quickly.

[nemesis_adrasteia]

%100 indication? remove it and have it crack tested.

i drove my old commodore around for months with a cracked head, used water but never overheated unless i let completely run out of water.

[TI3VOM]

%100 indication? remove it and have it crack tested.

i drove my old commodore around for months with a cracked head, used water but never overheated unless i let completely run out of water.

How much water did it use? and was it a VT??

[TI3VOM]

I did a cooling system flush about a week ago and just left tap water in it so I can try see if I really have a broken head, What are the 100% indications I have a broken head?

Have you had to fill up the radiator at all in the week since you have flushed it?

[Orpheus]

I guess i have to flush it again right now, because i didn't clean the overflow bottle when flushing the whole thing as it took ages, it was dark, and the overflow was flushed a week before by a mechanic, still i seen a little oil the on indicator stick the day after the flush, but that could of been because he accidentaly touched the stick.

I just want to know if i have a cracked head and this is doing my head in,

I havn't been loosing much water at all but the car has been getting hotter the last couple of days, when i came home from work the other day i noticed this boiling sound, i poped the hood and it seems to be comming from the radiator, the temp was only half way though. When i got home after an house of letting the car rest i tried to fill it with more water but it didn't take much at all, I did release the bleeder valve if anyone was thinking that

I'm going to do a re flush now and clean everything, to make sure the overflow doesn't contaminate the radiator water

also what is a cracked head check?

ok i need the sunlight bbl

[nemesis_adrasteia]

How much water did it use? and was it a VT??

i filled it up every other week, it was a VR.

[nemesis_adrasteia]

I guess i have to flush it again right now, because i didn't clean the overflow bottle when flushing the whole thing as it took ages, it was dark, and the overflow was flushed a week before by a mechanic, still i seen a little oil the on indicator stick the day after the flush, but that could of been because he accidentaly touched the stick.

I just want to know if i have a cracked head and this is doing my head in,

I havn't been loosing much water at all but the car has been getting hotter the last couple of days, when i came home from work the other day i noticed this boiling sound, i poped the hood and it seems to be comming from the radiator, the temp was only half way though. When i got home after an house of letting the car rest i tried to fill it with more water but it didn't take much at all, I did release the bleeder valve if anyone was thinking that

I'm going to do a re flush now and clean everything, to make sure the overflow doesn't contaminate the radiator water

also what is a cracked head check?

ok i need the sunlight bbl

have you pressure tested the cooling system?

have you tested for C02 in the cooling system?

does it miss at idle?

[Orpheus]

nemesis_adrasteia

I had a compression test if thats what you mean?

If not how do i test the cooling system for pressure and c02?

and what did you mean does it miss at idle?

you have got me very intrested now,

I thought the only way to find out was checking out the water for oil, or engine oil for water, or it heating up fast

[monkeys437]

Did you bleed the coolant after flushing and refilling it? If the water is boiling after the cars switched off when the gauge says its not hot you might have air in the system.

Can I ask why you thought you had a cracked head in the first place?

[nemesis_adrasteia]

nemesis_adrasteia

I had a compression test if thats what you mean?
a compression test tells you how much pressure is in each combustion chamber. this is done by removing the spark plug then screwing in the tester and then cranking over the engine(very basic explanation)

If not how do i test the cooling system for pressure and c02?
a pressure test is done with a pressure tester you remove the radiator cap and screw on the pressure tester, the tester is a hand pump witha gauge on it you pump it up to operating spec and see if it holds pressure(again basic explanation)

a CO2 tester(the one i use anyway) is held over the radiator neck with the cap removed with the engine running, it has fluid inside it as you squeeze the bulb it draws air from the cooling system(you have to drop the coolant level a little first) the fluid changes colour if there CO2 in the system(indicating a leak from the combustion chamber)

and what did you mean does it miss at idle?
does is missfire, a missfire at idle is a very noticable irregularity

you have got me very intrested now,

I thought the only way to find out was checking out the water for oil, or engine oil for water, or it heating up fast

hopefully that explains a bit to you, your mechanic would have a pressure tester and a CO2 tester

[Orpheus]

I just finished my research on all that before i saw your reply, that look like exactly what i need.

The 2 small mechanics i have been dealing with have just said to watch the water, and to do a cooling system flush, then we can take it from there. I'm not going to the first small mech anymore because i think he has just been milking me for my money, always keeps finding probs, after i paid my last $700 to fix oil leaks (this was 2 weeks after he fixed other oil leaks for $350) and then he said, i think you might have a cracked head and to watch the water and report back, i never returned.

I have never heard a misfire yet

do you know where i could get a cheap co2 - pressure tester from?

[nemesis_adrasteia]

I just finished my research on all that before i saw your reply, that look like exactly what i need.

The 2 small mechanics i have been dealing with have just said to watch the water, and to do a cooling system flush, then we can take it from there. I'm not going to the first small mech anymore because i think he has just been milking me for my money, always keeps finding probs, after i paid my last $700 to fix oil leaks (this was 2 weeks after he fixed other oil leaks for $350) and then he said, i think you might have a cracked head and to watch the water and report back, i never returned.

I have never heard a misfire yet

do you know where i could get a cheap co2 - pressure tester from?

ebay maybe? otherwise SCA might have something from what my boss has told me the CO2 test fluid is pretty expensive.

[TI3VOM]

have you pressure tested the cooling system?

have you tested for C02 in the cooling system?

does it miss at idle?

I had all of those issues with my car, turned out the miss was the coils and the cooling problem was the water pump and heater core both on there way out.

[Orpheus]

I'll give SCA a call tommorow, already checked out ebay,

I got that techtaloy mukowt flush in my car atm, had it in since sunday afternoon, it says 48hrs max, so i got to reclean the cooling system again tommorow after work, was too tired today. But this is driving me crazy.

ok so once again i will fill it with tap water and watch the water for oil, until the end of the week, the put some coolant in it, then call my mech and see if he can do these tests and when - prob be next week as i'm broke // or buy the tool myself.

I don't want to leave my car running on just tap water but everyone says the oil will be easy to see.

see the last time i flushed it, i didn't have enough time to flush the overflow bottle, as it was dark, now i'm getting this slight oil look at the top of the water in the radiator and i don't know if its from the overflow.

I know i should of done it the first time, but it was my first time doing all this stuff and it got way too late, however the overflow was cleaned out by my mech a week before that, but i seen a little oil on the indicator stick.

My mate said it was weird that he just wanted to clean the overflow and not flush the whole thing

Anyway tommorow i'll make sure to flush everything to make sure once and for all.

Just worried about leaving tap water in my car, it's been just over a week now since the last flush.

[Clutchy]

why are you so worried having tap water in it ? it wont hurt it its winter so it should not get that hot are the fans working ? whan you herd it boiling was it pushing water out anywere ?

[Orpheus]

I read that you should alway use coolant for rust protection and what not,

the boiling was comming from radiator, and i don't think there was any leak, because when i tried to top up the water it was full.

[nemesis_adrasteia]

I had all of those issues with my car, turned out the miss was the coils and the cooling problem was the water pump and heater core both on there way out.

good for you mate.

[nemesis_adrasteia]

Did you bleed the coolant after flushing and refilling it? If the water is boiling after the cars switched off when the gauge says its not hot you might have air in the system.

Can I ask why you thought you had a cracked head in the first place?

i agree with this guy^ why do you think you have a cracked head? and did you bleed the cooling system?

[TI3VOM]

good for you mate.

Wow you're a tool mate, I replied to you're post to let the OP know that it may be something more than just what you suggested, I had all the tests done that you said he should get done and was told that it may be a head gasket, it turned out to be what I said in my last post.

[nemesis_adrasteia]

Wow you're a tool mate, I replied to you're post to let the OP know that it may be something more than just what you suggested, I had all the tests done that you said he should get done and was told that it may be a head gasket, it turned out to be what I said in my last post.

your car tested positive to CO2 in the cooling system, yet you have no leaks from the combustion chamber.

seems more like it was directed at me, hence the reply.