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Gents new to the forum so hope this is appropriate. Have an early TR4 - history is unknown but the engine ran well last spring and the motor is exceptionally clean and painted. Recently when attempting to attend to fluid change and tune up I noticed the oil was coffee colored. It obviously had water in it. Conclusion from many TR fellows - head gasket. However, I recently did a compression test (wet and dry) and the compression tested acceptabale - varying by less than 10% on each. If the head gasket is not leaking - what are other reasons...condensation? Should I refill the fluids and run the motor to double check? Advise appreciated.
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TR 4 Head Gasket?
- Thread starter LyleTR
- Start date
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trrdster2000
Luke Skywalker
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LyleTR, lets go with condensation for the present time. Change fluids and give it some fresh gas. Like we say in NC, Fire That Sucker Up.
You may fine with heat expansion the Head gasket will leak, but get it warm and check for bubbles in the radiator and do a pressure test on the radiator which should give you a leak down if you do have a leaky head gasket or even a hose that's bad. Either way you will have a better idea of what's going on, IF ANYTHING!!!!
Wayne
You may fine with heat expansion the Head gasket will leak, but get it warm and check for bubbles in the radiator and do a pressure test on the radiator which should give you a leak down if you do have a leaky head gasket or even a hose that's bad. Either way you will have a better idea of what's going on, IF ANYTHING!!!!
Wayne
TR3driver
Great Pumpkin - R.I.P
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I would give it a shot. But first I would pull off the rocker cover and have a look at the cast "freeze" plug hidden under there. They sometimes corrode from the inside out and start leaking with no warning.
Unless a non-stock head gasket was used, IMO the leak (if any) is more likely to be somewhere else. The gaskets under the liners can leak (although not common) or it could be a cracked head or block. It's important, IMO, to identify the problem area BEFORE pulling the head, in case it's not obvious once the head is off. (Having the head off makes it impossible to test for coolant leaks.)
However, a leaking head gasket frequently does not show up on a compression test. After all, your complaint is leaking water/coolant, not leaking compression
Unless a non-stock head gasket was used, IMO the leak (if any) is more likely to be somewhere else. The gaskets under the liners can leak (although not common) or it could be a cracked head or block. It's important, IMO, to identify the problem area BEFORE pulling the head, in case it's not obvious once the head is off. (Having the head off makes it impossible to test for coolant leaks.)
However, a leaking head gasket frequently does not show up on a compression test. After all, your complaint is leaking water/coolant, not leaking compression
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tdskip said:
Seconded!
Go slowly... Use the surgeon's: "Do No Harm" paradigm. A coolant gas analysis gizmo may be the first, best test: some Big-Box auto-parts houses will lend one for free. If it shows you have combustion gasses in the coolant, a head gasket R&R may be a first-strike answer. The liner lower leak is less likely but not unheard-of.