Head Gaskets and cylinder Heads

[Mazuki]

My g16a powered escudo it showing signs of a cracked head and/or blown head gasket. Are there different syptoms to tell wether its a gasket or a cylinder head?
Im using alot of water but not over heating(according to the temp gauge), very smokey on start up, can see oil in the radiator and a little milkshake on the dip stick. Still running the standard cast manifold.
This isnt my first Escudo and have had a cylinder head repaired only to crack again after 10,000kms, then constantly over heated even with extractor fitted. But this vehical is showing different signs form the last. hence the slight confusion.

Just want to prepare myself when the time comes to repair.
Any help would be appreciated.

[dtchch]

Can't really tell without looking at the gasket and getting the head tested, both can cause oil/coolant to mix or enter the cylinder.

Going thru the same thing myself

[strx7]

the other thing which can give you the same symptoms and i am seeing it more and more as these motors get older is the blocks are cracking between the bore liners from the top deck right down into the main crank journal area., between Cylinders 3 & 4 is the most common one.

[kbushnz]

Apart from the obvious water in the oil or oil in the water..
Steam exhaust or exhaust bubbles in the radiator...
There is a litmus paper check where you can dip it into the coolant and it checks for combustion gases in the water... (cant remember its exact name)
Another check is to remove the spark plugs and have a look at the top of the pistons thru the hole...
If you have one really clean one then its the one getting a steam clean.

[kernels]

Isn't the repair process exactly the same either way ? You still have to remove the head and get it checked and you still have to change the head gasket. I guess you could take a chance just replacing the gasket, but then you might be opening it up again and buying another gasket a few days later.

[strx7]

its not very often than you can just blow a head gasket in a 16 valve suzuki G series motor.

The blocks can be split between the liners and you will get no signs of anything being wrong. Only visable once the head is off and the top deck is cleaned up.

[dtchch]

I need to spend a bit of time inspecting mine. Loosing water would mean a crack between the bore and water jacket right – if no oily water or coolant in oil?

The exhaust side head bolts were really loose so I’m hoping it was just loosing water beneath the gasket on that side – had milky oil (oil coolant mix) on one or two of the head bolts from that side.

Cracked block would really piss me off lol

[dtchch]

the other thing which can give you the same symptoms and i am seeing it more and more as these motors get older is the blocks are cracking between the bore liners from the top deck right down into the main crank journal area., between Cylinders 3 & 4 is the most common one.

Discovered last night this happened to me At least I found it now before I spent a couple of hundred bucks getting the head restored.

Anything I can do or just start looking for new engine or block?

[kernels]

the other thing which can give you the same symptoms and i am seeing it more and more as these motors get older is the blocks are cracking between the bore liners from the top deck right down into the main crank journal area., between Cylinders 3 & 4 is the most common one.

Discovered last night this happened to me At least I found it now before I spent a couple of hundred bucks getting the head restored.

Anything I can do or just start looking for new engine or block?

Bugger, you've really had a crappy run of it, talk to strx7, he may be able to help you out

[Mazuki]

Opened a can of worms it seems. Do most of you guys just put up with it and just change your water and oil often? Didnt know that cracking between the cylinder bores was common. Thourght it was just heads and gaskets. Crap-tastic.
Brings me to another question. Can A G16A be made reliable or dare I say it bullet proof? Surely the guys who turbo them must have a few tricks. Are the G16b's any better?
Or Should we consider engine transplants? MX5 bp b6's(1600cc) or toyota 4age's? Just a thourght

[dtchch]

I think with extractors on a good motor (ie, not cracked), and good servicing the block shouldn't crack - but maybe it's a design fault?
Though I've heard that the heads often crack between cyl 3&4 on the exhaust ports commonly too, perhaps they just don't flow well enough.

I've seen a few guys put Toyota engines in them, would probably go quite well but is a bit of work