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  1. #1
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    Default Head Gasket shot?

    How sensitive is the 16v turbo to overheating?

    Last year (August/Sept) the fan stopped working when I was miles from home attending an Alfa meet.

    I didn't realise until the temperature reached something like 115deg, I forget exactly how high, but it was quite a lot!

    Turning the heater on helped cool it down at the time.

    But...my car was giving off LOTS of smoke a week or two after...this is the OLD video:


    It looked white/grey but smelt oily so I've swapped the turbo and just started the car today.

    It's much better now but I fear it may still be smoking a little bit more than it should.

    I also saw drips of water coming from the downpipe (must be a small hole in it!) until it had got hot.

    Smoke doesn't smell oily any more....and the garage isn't filled with smoke like it did

    What are the chances the head gasket was fried last year?

    wrinx
    My Q4 in the Garage

    www.alfaromeo155.co.uk ............................ □□□-V-□□□ .................................. www.ilmostro.co.uk

  2. #2
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    Mine has been that hot in the past with water pump failure and seemed ok after. I suspect its oil residue burning off still. Takes a tiny amount of oil to make a lot of smoke.

  3. #3
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    Is the coolant level constant? No oil in the coolant or coolant in the oil?

  4. #4
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    make a cylinder compression test , check sparkplugs, oil and water levels and that they are not mixed. if everything is ok, dont worry maybe the smoke because of residual oil /water in the exhaust.

  5. #5
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    I'm still looking at the water level, just using plain water for now to check...filled and ran for a while, level dropped. Topped it back up and ran for bit longer...now I've got what was left of the old pink coolant so I reckon it's finally full!

    Exhaust wasn't dripping second time round either....I'm a bit more hopeful now

    Q4s love airlocks!

    wrinx
    My Q4 in the Garage

    www.alfaromeo155.co.uk ............................ □□□-V-□□□ .................................. www.ilmostro.co.uk

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by juamin View Post
    make a cylinder compression test , check sparkplugs, oil and water levels and that they are not mixed. if everything is ok, dont worry maybe the smoke because of residual oil /water in the exhaust.
    Only checked the plugs so far, they all look fine...

    wrinx
    My Q4 in the Garage

    www.alfaromeo155.co.uk ............................ □□□-V-□□□ .................................. www.ilmostro.co.uk

  7. #7
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    Have you thought about whacking up the boost and taking it for a spirited drive? It should soon let you know if the head gasket is gone. If your going to find out, do it in style

  8. #8
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    Try not to rise water temp at 115 degrees again making your test!

    If headgasket is gone you will see it in a couple of weeks.

    Nick

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    Quote Originally Posted by AlfaJack View Post
    Have you thought about whacking up the boost and taking it for a spirited drive? It should soon let you know if the head gasket is gone. If your going to find out, do it in style
    Like the idea...but no MOT so perhaps not a good idea Might get that bit sorted tomorrow although I suspect a fail is on the cards, for rear brakes at least!

    wrinx
    My Q4 in the Garage

    www.alfaromeo155.co.uk ............................ □□□-V-□□□ .................................. www.ilmostro.co.uk

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by AlfaJack View Post
    Have you thought about whacking up the boost and taking it for a spirited drive? It should soon let you know if the head gasket is gone. If your going to find out, do it in style
    +1

    All or nothing!!!


  11. #11
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    Mmm, just moved it out the garage ready for a VERY early start and MOT test.

    More little puddles under the car....

    wrinx
    My Q4 in the Garage

    www.alfaromeo155.co.uk ............................ □□□-V-□□□ .................................. www.ilmostro.co.uk

  12. #12
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    Didn't get chance to do the MOT as it overheated on the brake rollers, fan stopped working!

    Pretty sure the HG has gone, but will do a test when I get over being pissed off at the car!

    ...also the turbo is overboosting and the clutch slipped when it hit about 1.5bar

    Not happy!

    wrinx

    (Has anyone replaced their own head gasket...how much of a pain is it?)
    Last edited by wrinx; 18-04-09 at 08:49.
    My Q4 in the Garage

    www.alfaromeo155.co.uk ............................ □□□-V-□□□ .................................. www.ilmostro.co.uk

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by wrinx View Post
    (Has anyone replaced their own head gasket...how much of a pain is it?)

    Its not the worst job to have to do. Basically remove the belt, pull the exhaust manifold off - then you have the problem of the inlet manifold . You could lift it off with it attached to the head if you do it slowly and then you can split the two on the bench for the re-fit. I would recommend putting the inlet trumpets back on the head and re-fitting the inlet manifold to that when the head and trumpets are back on the car.

  14. #14
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    maybe of topic but it's something I wanted to ask for a long time. Is it possible to use reinforced studs at the oem M10 thread - not going to 12mm - instead of the oem bolts? Are there such studs and where can be found?

    If it's possible, I'll replace my head gasket sooner.

    Nick

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by AlfaJack View Post
    Its not the worst job to have to do. Basically remove the belt, pull the exhaust manifold off - then you have the problem of the inlet manifold . You could lift it off with it attached to the head if you do it slowly and then you can split the two on the bench for the re-fit. I would recommend putting the inlet trumpets back on the head and re-fitting the inlet manifold to that when the head and trumpets are back on the car.
    Thanks Jack, why would you fit the inlet after fitting the head, when they came off together?

    Might be a daft question but I've never removed the Q4's inlet

    ...and I guess the bolts are stretchy?

    wrinx
    My Q4 in the Garage

    www.alfaromeo155.co.uk ............................ □□□-V-□□□ .................................. www.ilmostro.co.uk

  16. #16
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    Quote Originally Posted by wrinx View Post
    Might be a daft question but I've never removed the Q4's inlet
    Give it a shot and you know the anwser
    I find it a hell of a job

    Greetings,
    Marc
    In a world full of compromise...
    ...some don't.
    ___________________________
    Opel Astra Sports Tourer 110HP 2017
    Alfa 147 1.6 16V 120HP
    Alfa 155 Q4 2.0 16V turbo

  17. #17
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    Oh yeah...I can't wait to have a go

    wrinx
    My Q4 in the Garage

    www.alfaromeo155.co.uk ............................ □□□-V-□□□ .................................. www.ilmostro.co.uk

  18. #18
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    Done some checks...

    The "sniffer" liquid only turned a very slight tinge of off blue and I got the following compression test (dry) readings:

    1 - 130
    2 - 125
    3 - 128
    4 - 130

    Perhaps not the head gasket then???

    wrinx
    My Q4 in the Garage

    www.alfaromeo155.co.uk ............................ □□□-V-□□□ .................................. www.ilmostro.co.uk

  19. #19
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    Quote Originally Posted by wrinx View Post
    Thanks Jack, why would you fit the inlet after fitting the head, when they came off together?

    Might be a daft question but I've never removed the Q4's inlet

    ...and I guess the bolts are stretchy?

    wrinx
    I dont think the bolts are stretchy - if they are then I have not replaced them before

    I was just suggesting that method of fitting them back separately (I did it with both bolted together actually) as it allows for more manoeuvrability when locating the head. Having a big heavy inlet on it makes it clunky and reduces the chances of getting it right and more likely chance of damaging the HG.

  20. #20
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    Ah, fair enough. Easy when you have an overhead gantry with block and tackle though

    wrinx
    My Q4 in the Garage

    www.alfaromeo155.co.uk ............................ □□□-V-□□□ .................................. www.ilmostro.co.uk

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