I posted a while back about my Twinscrewed S50 having its final moment;
hence, I found coolant in #4 and the compression there was HIGH due to this situation. Usually our HG's fail between cylinders OR from a coolant port to a cylinder correct?
I was hoping that was the case and it might still be. I'd love to gather your opinions as to how the following has happened, leaving little to no "visible" signs of HG failure. I do NOT have photos of the spark plugs present at time of heat-up and coolant pressurization. The engine overheated for a minute/moment, literally (based on the OE sensor and dash gauge.) It DID hit the red mark for a moment in a last ditch attempt to accelerate and coast to make the next offramp and gas station. After that, the engine cooled, I topped and bled the cooling system there at the station while enjoying a sausage, egg and cheese biscuit and milK. The engine was never the same afterward though I was able to daily drive it for a week, having to REBLEED the cooling system twice that week.
So... sure, we can see the end result, but what is the cause. A simple HEAD lift to allow coolant in for a steam clean? What causes this? Humbly.
pics tell a story, most likely (that's a small puddle on the piston, not a hole)
Last edited by milKt; 05-30-2011 at 10:21 PM.
Cracked head? Is that what we are getting at?
Jimmy
Technique Tuning Stage 2 on 9:1 built motor(SOLD)
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Just an idiot with a wrench...
i also see what looks like some detonation or leaning out, the combustion chamber looks to have some aluminum speckling, or it could just be the picture.
Head cracked causing coolant to get into cylinder #4. The piston is just clean from the coolant burning in there. The head cracking like that could be numerous different things. Improper torque, warped head, head lift... Etc. Just my speculation from pic.
could be
To be honest, i have 3 victor ring headgaskets sitting in my garage that look like that torn and missing chunks. I would much rather use a .87 mls with mating smooth surfaces than use another vc oem hg.
We see these little cracks pop up on our heads,
but what came first the chicken or the egg?
Do these little cracks form and cause our cooling issues
or vice versa ,
a warped head, stretched studs/bolts, head lift, etc. cause the system to overheat and crack the head?
I have watched many here struggle to get the MLS HG to work properly, over and over (for whatever reason, maybe installer error, IDK)
and I don't want that. My Elring you see there lasted 4 full years at low RPM 10-12psi torque boost with undercuts (ARP 8740's). Stock type gaskets do well with proper torque and a good tune, though the forums have taught us to steer clear of Victor Reinz HG's for sure, whether N/A or FI.
I'm interested to know what causes the cracks. They're documented here, but my first few searches did not turn up a "cause". Maybe I'm still a noob search artist.
Overheating = cracked head. It only takes once.
There is no evidence of detonation. (But I would say that)
No PMs. Email through forum please.
So, of all the "causes" of detonation/knock
the most likely for my situation would be poor cooling, wrong mixture (bad gas) or an intermittent injector issue?
If so, make sure to test the 42#ers I turned over to Susan.
Yes,
I'm learning a bit. No faking knowledge here. Now... will I retain it?
I suppose this is as good a time to bring up what might be a decent data logger for future diagnostics.
man i'm glad that didnt happen to me, mine hit the red zone on the coolant dummy gauge several times when I blew my MLS in 2009. Head was checked for cracks at the machine shop when it was decked.
sorry to see that and lol at the angry face.
Go ahead and bite. Plenty for everyone.
True. Document and describe all findings as symptoms and postulate truth.
Retention of knowledge could also relate to how painful the situation was that that caused the knowledge to be found or where the knowledge lands in the hierarchy of importance (priority) to one's life. Either way, good info. I have three heads to drop at the machine shop next week for baths, maintenance and repair.
Anyone have an S50 or S52 exhaust cam for sale?
This is because when you are in pain, you are paying very close attention to the thing causing said pain. Depending on the situation however, adrenaline can cause major distractions which prevent data retention. Put up pics of the cleaned heads, I love naked, clean, car parts pr0n.
Whatever happened with your touring btw?
Go ahead and bite. Plenty for everyone.
Well milKt, seeing that you use green garbage coolant in previous photos doesnt help the situation: There is a reason BMW has coolant to purchase. Dcvee recommended you use straight water in your new build. I guess that's fine for constant warmer climates. But coolant actually aides in cooling too.
Pics are part of documentation of solution and "healing".
The estate is still "near" the paint booth. Cash coatings don't take priority, though in today's market you'd think he'd like to line his polyesters with green rather than waiting the obligatory "bi-week". She is going to be so pretty. Many pics will be posted in the Dirty Four as well.
Good point.
Even our BMW "snazzy pants" coolant will break down and not do its job well if not flushed frequently or other system issues interfere with it's abilities. Thanks for having me take a good read at cooling, coolants, electrolysis and other ideas.
Distilled water will be the coolant of choice for my turbo set-up.
Those plugs look waaaay to white porcelain I mean
Ah, tough break(pun intended). Give us the dope on the history of this engine.
Don
that is an extremely common crack location, especially if the motor has ever been overheated.
Probably 1/3 of the "core" motors we see have a crack somewhere on the head, and those are generally stock 325 or 525 motors. Many from stock unmodified cars with automatics. I suspect a cooling system issue in the past being the most likely cause of the cracks. (busted radiator neck, failed water pump, or just neglect.)
Usually we don't see a HG failure along with it unless it causes further overheating and warps the head enough to unload part of the gasket.
Sometimes the heads can be repaired, sometimes its cheaper/easier to source another core. (just be sure to get any other core cleaned and pressure tested before doing anything else.)
Michael McCoy TRM
I put new plugs when she started to act up a few months ago;
hence, they are not showing what may have happened. They were only in for that short week.
- better than hydrolocked
This is the TS S50. HG replaced, engine cleaned up, ARP 8740s installed, 40K miles ago
Prior to that... <--- why does this guy have a Santa hat on?
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