head gasket keeps blowing :(

[stevenf]

Currently running a 1.4 bottom end with 1.3 head but it keeps blowing head gasket. What gasket should I be using. I am currently using the one to match the 1.4 bottom end. Any help greatly appreciated as I am sick of taking the head off all the time.

[Connor]

Have you had the head skimmed?

[stevenf]

Forgot to mention but yeah head was skimmed and block was checked as well.

[Adam]

Gasket keep going in the same place?

Is the head/block flat?

[crash_ndie]

id try the thickest 1 of the 2 gaskets it will reduce compression a bit but may save stripping the head all time or get the head skimed down a tad if its constantly blowing theres to much compression or the block or head is warped

[stevenf]

Would a competition head gasket bear up any better?

[crash_ndie]

may be worth a try !

[General Baxter]

you must be doing something wrong,

dont buy a comp head gasket, it wont be needed i i got my 1.4 to run for over a year with a std 10p head gasket

[stevenf]

Doing it the same way I have done every other nova lol this is the only one that's caused me problems. Might not help that the car gets used for auto testing as well lol

[Cle]

Was the head pressure tested aye ?

[mowgli]

1. how good is the cooling system?? has it been flushed? new stat etc.
2. what figures are you torquing it up to?
3. are you warming the engine up well before a run?
4. just how often is it blowing?

[Stuart]

Sure its even gone?

[burgo]

thats what i was gonna say. how do you KNOW the head gasket is the problem

[stevenf]

Was the head pressure tested aye ?

Skimmed and pressure tested.

[stevenf]

1. how good is the cooling system?? has it been flushed? new stat etc.
2. what figures are you torquing it up to?
3. are you warming the engine up well before a run?
4. just how often is it blowing?

1 yeah its been flushed and new thermostat and never goes above quarter on temp guage.
2 25 nm then 3 stages of 60 degrees
3 let it run for about 5 mins before I go anywhere
4 three times in two months

[mowgli]

has the breather been cleaned out? how often are you bleeding the coolant system?

[stevenf]

Yeah breather was done. coolant has been flushed and bled about 4 times. Its pressurising up all the time now and using water so the levels are getting checked every day. Took the thermostat out and tested that and its working fine.

[mowgli]

have you replaced the rad cap? my skoda 120 kept boiling up & blowing the water out, new cap sorted it.

when was the water pump last replaced?

[General Baxter]

sure its not a LET lmao

[Alex J]

are you driving it like you stole it everywhere at 14 million rpmlol

[General Baxter]

are you driving it like you stole it everywhere at 14 million rpmlol

my 1.4 lasted over 12month, i drove it like that from cold aswell :thumb:

[Alex J]

my 1.4 lasted over 12month, i drove it like that from cold aswell :thumb:and where is this car nowlol ??

[General Baxter]

if you seen the spec of it, you would be amazed it even started lol

[mowgli]

/\and i witnessed that one... it had crazy cr & was hammered.

[General Baxter]

1.4 block (with home made dremled pistons and spark plug gaps lol)
1.3 head (stupid skim)
webber 34/23 carb,
std 1.3 cam,
std pulley,
std exhaust, just a tip lol

107bhp lol

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a191/baxters83/th_Video000-1.jpg (http://s11.photobucket.com/albums/a191/baxters83/?action=view&current=Video000-1.mp4)

[Alex J]

/\and i witnessed that one... it had crazy cr & was hammered.of topic, but when you say hammered, are we talking my kind of hammered???

[General Baxter]

might aswell lol

[mowgli]

it had vigorous & enthusiastic use.

[stevenf]

pump and radiator cap never changed. Its just used generally until the auto tests then it gets a good thrashing lol not been over revved though as there is a limiter fitted at 6200rpm

[stevenf]

Anyone any ideas then?

[Cle]

I was thinking head could be cracked but if its had a pressure test then it must be ok

[garyc]

knackered water pump? cracked block?

You could always try ARP head studs & nuts, they are meant to provide superior clamping force on the cylinder head.

[C612DNM]

My 1300 used to run with cylinder pressures of between 240/260psi on cranking with a cheap comp tester (std was about 160/180 with the same gauge), and I only ever used standard gaskets.

My early 1400's used to blow gaskets. But in those days the std 1300 gasket was smaller than the 1200 bore, they then changed the design so they were all the same and the problems went away. Back in the old days, 1200 gaskets were simple, and didn't have a reinforcement sandwiched in them! We're talking mid/late 1980's.

The 1300 has a bigger chamber than a 1400, the 1400's pistons have more dish. So for your low compression 1400 to blow gaskets, something must be wrong. I'd still be inclined to point the finger at the block. Get it out, get it decked, and have the head faced by the same people.

[novacabrio]

I'd suspect a cracked head, and the pressure test could of been a faulty reading. Has it been skimmed every time? Next time it goes then get a 2nd opinion.

Also if you have not changed the water pump then i'd also suggest that. If the impeller has stopped working on the rear then the water wont be getting pumped around the system to cool and the block warms up and causes the gasket to go.

If you want me to give it a look over and give you a 2nd opinion then you know where I am.

[stevenf]

My 1300 used to run with cylinder pressures of between 240/260psi on cranking with a cheap comp tester (std was about 160/180 with the same gauge), and I only ever used standard gaskets.

My early 1400's used to blow gaskets. But in those days the std 1300 gasket was smaller than the 1200 bore, they then changed the design so they were all the same and the problems went away. Back in the old days, 1200 gaskets were simple, and didn't have a reinforcement sandwiched in them! We're talking mid/late 1980's.

The 1300 has a bigger chamber than a 1400, the 1400's pistons have more dish. So for your low compression 1400 to blow gaskets, something must be wrong. I'd still be inclined to point the finger at the block. Get it out, get it decked, and have the head faced by the same people.

Coopersion on mine is 205psi on all 4 cylinders. .not too sure if that's high for the engine. Lol

[stevenf]

I'd suspect a cracked head, and the pressure test could of been a faulty reading. Has it been skimmed every time? Next time it goes then get a 2nd opinion.

Also if you have not changed the water pump then i'd also suggest that. If the impeller has stopped working on the rear then the water wont be getting pumped around the system to cool and the block warms up and causes the gasket to go.

If you want me to give it a look over and give you a 2nd opinion then you know where I am.

I have not changed the water pump and yeah its been skimmed :) when the car has been running the bonnet sometimes gets that hot that you can't touch it but the temperature guage never goes above quarter on the guage unless its sitting still. Might pop down this weekend so see what you think as its doing my head in now. Really tempted to put the other 1.4nz engine in but change it to carb and fully strip and rebuild the 1.4nv engine to a good spec. :D

[Stuart]

Coopersion on mine is 205psi on all 4 cylinders. .not too sure if that's high for the engine. Lol


tbh compression tests are only for indication over all 4/number of pots. Since all manner of things affect the actual numbers, let alone an inaccurate gauge lol