900 1992 Head Gasket?
Discussion
Hi All
I realise there is probably no easy enswer to this one, or maybe someone knows of one?
I opened the sparkplug cover today to find that a black tan liquid has been seeping into the bay from the seam that goes around the space where the leads to the sparkplugs are kept.
It is oily in colour but thinner than oil. It smells a little sweet, but not excessively.
I checked the pistons from the spark holes and they are all covered in grey, carbon-looking deposits as they, I believe, should be.
The exhaust drips water in the morning with just a little smoke, which smells sweet, but not too much.
The car runs fine with no excessive consumption, or noise.
The engine doesn't overheat, the thermostat works fine and the radiator fan works as well.
A little history leading up to the discovery:
'check engine' sign kept coming on and off for periods over the last month, but this last week hasn't lighted at all.
Radiator split overnight at -20c in the alps so I just put this down to the dirt in the cooling system negating the effect of the anti-freeze that I put in. It was a rusty colour when I recently bought it (very cheaply I should add!)
I put some thickening liquid in the system and the leaks seem to be cured, at least at higher temperatures anyway.
I have since flushed the radiator and it is clean now. I have yet to flush the engine.
I found that the rotor arm was crumbling last week and replaced it.
Anyway, hope I've caught it in time; please tell me I have somebody?
Thanks
Greg
I realise there is probably no easy enswer to this one, or maybe someone knows of one?
I opened the sparkplug cover today to find that a black tan liquid has been seeping into the bay from the seam that goes around the space where the leads to the sparkplugs are kept.
It is oily in colour but thinner than oil. It smells a little sweet, but not excessively.
I checked the pistons from the spark holes and they are all covered in grey, carbon-looking deposits as they, I believe, should be.
The exhaust drips water in the morning with just a little smoke, which smells sweet, but not too much.
The car runs fine with no excessive consumption, or noise.
The engine doesn't overheat, the thermostat works fine and the radiator fan works as well.
A little history leading up to the discovery:
'check engine' sign kept coming on and off for periods over the last month, but this last week hasn't lighted at all.
Radiator split overnight at -20c in the alps so I just put this down to the dirt in the cooling system negating the effect of the anti-freeze that I put in. It was a rusty colour when I recently bought it (very cheaply I should add!)
I put some thickening liquid in the system and the leaks seem to be cured, at least at higher temperatures anyway.
I have since flushed the radiator and it is clean now. I have yet to flush the engine.
I found that the rotor arm was crumbling last week and replaced it.
Anyway, hope I've caught it in time; please tell me I have somebody?
Thanks
Greg
Hmmm, can't visualise where the liquid is coming from - do you have a weeping rocker cover gasket?
I've not heard good things about using radweld type stuff, it blocks up the small waterways...
I wouldn't imagine the check engine light is related. What engine do you have? If yours is a turbo then you should have the Lucas fuel injection (Lucas air mass meter and gold coloured resistor in o/s wing). Otherwise it's the Bosch LH.
Either way it's easy to interrogate it to find out the causes of the codes
Might be worth flushing the whole cooling system - if the rad is dodgy get it replaced, you need to have a decent cooling system on these cars!
I've not heard good things about using radweld type stuff, it blocks up the small waterways...
I wouldn't imagine the check engine light is related. What engine do you have? If yours is a turbo then you should have the Lucas fuel injection (Lucas air mass meter and gold coloured resistor in o/s wing). Otherwise it's the Bosch LH.
Either way it's easy to interrogate it to find out the causes of the codes
Might be worth flushing the whole cooling system - if the rad is dodgy get it replaced, you need to have a decent cooling system on these cars!
Thanks
yes, weeping is the correct word for it. There doesn't seem to be one area of leakage but the whole seam is weeping. It is the seam which goes in between the valve cover (the black top bit with saab 16 valve written on it), and the silver main engine casing where I believe the camshafts are housed at a height a little above the level of the sparkplugs.
Sorry if my knowledge of car part vocabulary isn't that great.
Anyway, I'll flush it completely out and pull it apart to inspect whichever gaskets are under there.
I don't need the car for a few weeks now so can collect the bits together once I am sure of the problem.
Thanks
Greg
yes, weeping is the correct word for it. There doesn't seem to be one area of leakage but the whole seam is weeping. It is the seam which goes in between the valve cover (the black top bit with saab 16 valve written on it), and the silver main engine casing where I believe the camshafts are housed at a height a little above the level of the sparkplugs.
Sorry if my knowledge of car part vocabulary isn't that great.
Anyway, I'll flush it completely out and pull it apart to inspect whichever gaskets are under there.
I don't need the car for a few weeks now so can collect the bits together once I am sure of the problem.
Thanks
Greg
oops, yeah you are right 900t. I believed something I read about the model without checking.
It is actually the Bosch system.
After all I,ve read, it seems that you are probably right about the valve cover leaking oil.
I've ordered a camshaft cover gasket and o-rings, so will replace them after xmas and see how it goes.
Thanks All, Much appreciated help
Greg
It is actually the Bosch system.
After all I,ve read, it seems that you are probably right about the valve cover leaking oil.
I've ordered a camshaft cover gasket and o-rings, so will replace them after xmas and see how it goes.
Thanks All, Much appreciated help
Greg
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