VY + Airport = New Car Time???

[eXcon]

So I'd just done about 3000 km's driving my girl around the countryside looking to buy her a car to fit the new squid. Ran like a dream and had kept a close eye on temp, coolant and oil levels all the way. Didn't lose a drop of either.

We get back to the goldie and some friends need a lift to the airport. We're about 7 kays out when all of a sudden the temp guage shoots through the roof. "Hot hot hot".
I go to park the car and theres steam streaming out of the exhuast, the car finally stops itself about a foot from where I'm aiming to park it. It just couldn't fire another beat.

Turns out the VY has a passion for blowing the drivers side expansion tank, about 4 inches down from the top. There I am at the airport, steaming out the entire circuit, hood up and wondering what the f*** just happened.

Next day I get the car towed back. Eventually I replace the rad. No water in the oil at this stage. Lifter noise yes, and car starts on what sounds like a bit of water in a cylinder. So now it goes fine, but the temp gets from cold to half in 5 minutes. My car has never run at anything over a quarter heat.

I was hoping it was "just a stupid thermostat" issue that's making it get that hot so quickly.
But the TK test never lies, I had 3 tk tests performed on the radiator and can confirm that emmisions are getting into the coolant. I'm guessing that water is seeping into the cylinders through a broken inlet gasket somewhere, but I need some help to clarify this.

I'm actually still hoping that it's just a thermostat. Has anyone seen something similar?

The cooling system is pressurizing heavily and I cant risk another radiator getting blown out in the middle of nowhere... a mechanic told me to release the pressure in the system I can run it with the rad cap halfway undone. This should allow the pressure to be released more easily, but how long or how far before she goes bang, and wants to just

Also, its a supercharged motor and I can't find the right LIM gaskets for pricing. Does anyone know which part im after? Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

[delcowizzid]

if its presurising the cooling system its most likely head gasket or cracked head or i spose it could be a inlet being supercharged but i wouldnt be expecting a TK test to show up cumbustion gasses from inlet gaskets to easily unless its a real fumey engine and its getting vapours going into the water via the inlet gaskets

[eXcon]

Thanks wizkid I've read some of your posts before I appreciate the help.

3 out of 3 mechanics said almost completley unlikely that it's Head gaskets but Im open to the possibility, they each said that they strongly doubt it and rarely see these heads blow or crack, and that the gaskets are particularly strong.

The engine was never fumey, very clean with 167 thou on the clock, I suppose it could be. It did get hot enough to totally stop.

How long before I get a bang out of it ?

[delcowizzid]

could get another 100000 kays yet LOL or it could dump all the water faster than you can count and be in the same boat again.the VS ecotechs are bad for heads cracking so i hear a few engine shops say they do them quite regular dont know how the later ones are for it.intake gaskets are cheap enough and easy enough to change yourself to see if it helps if it doesnt you are only out of pocket $40 and a day of time changing them.

[eXcon]

Best advice ever actually. So doin it. Worst ever part is gotta pull the supercharger first. Looks like a sucky job given all the fuelines and what not.

Am trying to track down the correct inlets for the supercharged model, as they aren't specially listed at Cheapa Auto Spares or SuperCheap... Hmmmm, That $40 could turn into $140 if I gotta source the right ones through Holden Genuine, hehe. Avoiding at all costs.

Thanks for the replies

It's got a bung lifter too, can I throw in a new individual lifter? Or do I gotta throw in an entire new set :S?

TIA!

[delcowizzid]

nah could do just one lifter if you are looking to save money good time to do it while the tops off.i cant remember where everyone gets there alloy intake gaskets from someone on here will know

[eXcon]

Orsm, thanks again. Calling all alloy intake gasket people with supercharged motors? Where do I get the gasket from ? Cheers

[andyman]

Orsm, thanks again. Calling all alloy intake gasket people with supercharged motors? Where do I get the gasket from ? Cheers

ask an engine rebuilding mob?

[Troy711]

Shouldn't this be in VY not VZ..?

[eXcon]

Woops, sorry guys I must've accidentally scrolled down a bit when I went to click it, can a moderator please move this thread to the VY section?

Ta

[alien]

My car was constantly overheating when i first got it. All of a sudden it would just increase in temperature. I had a look at my temp guage at the bottom of a hill and it was normal, then by the top of the hill (maybe 200 metres) it had already overheated and the warning had sounded. I ended up destroying the head gasket and this only made it worse. Turns out the coolant in the system i had put in wasn't coolant.

So got the heads machined and replaced the gasket with a FelPro gasket. Put in new coolant and it's going very well. If your looking for a gasket look to FelPro they will last a long time! Most mechanics dont like them though (in customers cars), means they'll never have to replace them again. FelPro are harder to find and are more expensive, but if you can afford it, do it! I knew of one FelPro head gasket that was in an engine for 28 years, only replaced because the engine was rebuilt.

[Sabbath']

. Turns out the coolant in the system i had put in wasn't coolant.

How can coolant...not be coolant?

[alien]

How can coolant...not be coolant?

It was actually concentrated radiator treatment in a coolant bottle. Same colour as coolant but doesn't work without coolant.