In several other threads I have spoken of my cooling system woes with my Moke. Basically, it seems to be getting worse the more I drive it, for the last few months.
It's a 1275 High Compression A+ Auto engine and box from a 1990 Metro. It allegedly had 33,000miles on it in the UK before coming to Aus and going into my Moke (another 10,000 miles). It's running the factory oil cooler from the Metro too.
Now it creeps up to 7/8 on the gauge (or 110 deg C) and just stays there. Oil pressure then drops 20-30psi. It never actually boils, but it's getting very hot. Ironically it still runs beautifully though!!
- I've tried a "super-cool two core" UK radiator, a new alloy radiator and a Morris 1100S radiator.
- I've tried blanking sleeve and a gutted thermostat.
- I've tried retarding the timing and enriching the mixture.
- I've tried the stock fan and shroud, same plus a thermo in the inner guard and even one thermo behind the grille and one in the inner guard with no engine fan or shroud.
- The water pump is less than four years old and has done less than 10,000miles. I've used proper coolant all the time, so I have no reason to suspect there's anything wrong with that. I can also see the water flowing well with the cap off and the engine running.
- There are no signs of water in the oil. I've never noticed oil in the water, but I've had the radiator out so many times now and used so many different lots of coolant perhaps it never had a chance to show!
- I can't see any bubbles in the coolant.
- Compression is 195psi on all four (hot, throttle open).
- No sign of steam out the tailpipe.
The only conclusion I can come to, is that I have blown the head gasket at some stage and it's steadily getting worse.
Any other thoughts before I rip it's head off?
Cheers,