The car lost power and stalled at 65mph. Got to layby.
AA man did a test with a test tube type thing and said:
"You have exhaust gases in your cooling water, your head gasket has gone"
The car idled fine, would not pull away though. But after cooling for a while it went back to being normal. AA man said to tow me home though.
Does this test exist or was he having me on. Is it reliable? You'll see why I ask when you read on:
Now, I was so impressed with this quick diagnosis, that I lost all sense and within a few hours (quite a few actually) had the head off.
Gasket was fine ! Then I looked at the spark plugs (the sort of thing I'd have done ordinarily if I had not been daft enough or blinded by AA man)
2 plugs had cracked porcelain - gap was twice what it should have been on all plugs.
This could have been because I haven't serviced it when I should have or maybe an overheating problem, but it looks like I have wasted 2 days and nearly £200 in parts on the cylinder head.
If only I'd done my own diagnosis I'd have checked the usual and simplest things first.
Or does this test exist and is it reliable and did I have a small water leak that my naked eye cannot see?
The engine looks in really good condition for its miles. I do service it regularly and change oil well before time.
Ford escort 1.8 Zetec.
1998 year.
110k miles.
Any advice most welcome.
Cheers
AA man did a test with a test tube type thing and said:
"You have exhaust gases in your cooling water, your head gasket has gone"
The car idled fine, would not pull away though. But after cooling for a while it went back to being normal. AA man said to tow me home though.
Does this test exist or was he having me on. Is it reliable? You'll see why I ask when you read on:
Now, I was so impressed with this quick diagnosis, that I lost all sense and within a few hours (quite a few actually) had the head off.
Gasket was fine ! Then I looked at the spark plugs (the sort of thing I'd have done ordinarily if I had not been daft enough or blinded by AA man)
2 plugs had cracked porcelain - gap was twice what it should have been on all plugs.
This could have been because I haven't serviced it when I should have or maybe an overheating problem, but it looks like I have wasted 2 days and nearly £200 in parts on the cylinder head.
If only I'd done my own diagnosis I'd have checked the usual and simplest things first.
Or does this test exist and is it reliable and did I have a small water leak that my naked eye cannot see?
The engine looks in really good condition for its miles. I do service it regularly and change oil well before time.
Ford escort 1.8 Zetec.
1998 year.
110k miles.
Any advice most welcome.
Cheers