Using DIESEL FUEL for engine flushing in 1.8 K SeriesTurbo.
Discussion
Effective brief use of DIESEL FUEL, not Diesel engine oil to flush dirty Petrol engine internals following a bad case of cylinder head gasket damage resulting in classic oil-coolant emulsification mix.
X-Posted copy from my "Mission" thread over on MG-Rover.org.
Mindful that the engine has some very thin Diesel Fuel as lubricant and flushing agent only in the engine, drove the car gently up onto the nearby Cotswold Hills and even more gently down. Round trip of only 6.3 miles. Very gentle miles and engine only taken once over 2500 rpm and then only gently to 3000 rpm. Here's the car on said Hills :~
Well, the Diesel Fuel did the trick as cleansing agent very well indeed. Look at the colour of that drained Fuel from the car's sump. Alongside is some fresh Diesel Fuel for comparison. :~
Look at the residue left after pouring the contaminated sump contents into a waste container for disposal later. That black stuff is better out of the engine than still lurking in there. :~
This GM 10-40 Semi-synthetic I bought two years ago will do nicely. :~
Before the trip, I poured some SPEEDFlush into the cooling system header tank. Good stuff this and used it to good effect many times in the past to clear systems. The instructions say to run engine at idle for a few minutes. I have risked using it for the six mile round trip today as I've done before. No harm done ... effectively beneficial .... so far. Then drained the system by releasing one of the quick release fastenings close to the PRT. The coolant drained very smoothly and quickly. I was expecting that quick release band hose fastener to be difficult to work. They usually are but not this time. Using a large pair of Mole Grips, undid and slid the hose off the PRT housing very easily. Used a garden hose to give the system a thorough pressure wsh out.
Then charged the cooling system with a dilute 50-50 OAT Coolant mix ensuring the coolant emerged from the Bleed Bolt on the coolant pipe above the bell housing. :~
Then drove the car gently and got some fuel. Not 100% convinced the fuel gauge is accurate. The sender unit in the tank took a bit of heavy handling treatment when realigning the displaced in-tank Fuel Filter. The gauge then read nearly full so appears OK.
Now fully warmed up and running nicely, took the car for a swift 30-mile run locally including some fast roads. Used full boost a couple of times as my confidence in the car grew.
I cannot believe how well this old car now runs. WOW! Just wow! Fingers crossed, it stays that way. A post run under bonnet check of levels etc showed all's well.. Even the replacement turbocharger which until today was an unknown quantity, because I had not seen it running and had only checked the shaft for wear, shaped up nicely with smooth delivery. Appears I've backed a winner there too. Good eh!
Now to move on to the cosmetics. The interior is a bit of a tip. Needs a good clear out. I'll do that in a few days. Give me old bones and joints a break to allow them to recover from the abuse of the past few weeks working under and over the car.
Despite all the positive news so far, I will of course monitor the car closely for a few more weeks until I am 100% confident.
X-Posted copy from my "Mission" thread over on MG-Rover.org.
=====================================================
Mindful that the engine has some very thin Diesel Fuel as lubricant and flushing agent only in the engine, drove the car gently up onto the nearby Cotswold Hills and even more gently down. Round trip of only 6.3 miles. Very gentle miles and engine only taken once over 2500 rpm and then only gently to 3000 rpm. Here's the car on said Hills :~
Well, the Diesel Fuel did the trick as cleansing agent very well indeed. Look at the colour of that drained Fuel from the car's sump. Alongside is some fresh Diesel Fuel for comparison. :~
Look at the residue left after pouring the contaminated sump contents into a waste container for disposal later. That black stuff is better out of the engine than still lurking in there. :~
This GM 10-40 Semi-synthetic I bought two years ago will do nicely. :~
Before the trip, I poured some SPEEDFlush into the cooling system header tank. Good stuff this and used it to good effect many times in the past to clear systems. The instructions say to run engine at idle for a few minutes. I have risked using it for the six mile round trip today as I've done before. No harm done ... effectively beneficial .... so far. Then drained the system by releasing one of the quick release fastenings close to the PRT. The coolant drained very smoothly and quickly. I was expecting that quick release band hose fastener to be difficult to work. They usually are but not this time. Using a large pair of Mole Grips, undid and slid the hose off the PRT housing very easily. Used a garden hose to give the system a thorough pressure wsh out.
Then charged the cooling system with a dilute 50-50 OAT Coolant mix ensuring the coolant emerged from the Bleed Bolt on the coolant pipe above the bell housing. :~
Then drove the car gently and got some fuel. Not 100% convinced the fuel gauge is accurate. The sender unit in the tank took a bit of heavy handling treatment when realigning the displaced in-tank Fuel Filter. The gauge then read nearly full so appears OK.
Now fully warmed up and running nicely, took the car for a swift 30-mile run locally including some fast roads. Used full boost a couple of times as my confidence in the car grew.
I cannot believe how well this old car now runs. WOW! Just wow! Fingers crossed, it stays that way. A post run under bonnet check of levels etc showed all's well.. Even the replacement turbocharger which until today was an unknown quantity, because I had not seen it running and had only checked the shaft for wear, shaped up nicely with smooth delivery. Appears I've backed a winner there too. Good eh!
Now to move on to the cosmetics. The interior is a bit of a tip. Needs a good clear out. I'll do that in a few days. Give me old bones and joints a break to allow them to recover from the abuse of the past few weeks working under and over the car.
Despite all the positive news so far, I will of course monitor the car closely for a few more weeks until I am 100% confident.
Edited by MGJohn on Saturday 10th May 23:48
Update. Ten days on and a few hundred miles later to say that I am delighted with how this project car has shaped up would be an understatement. So, flushed with this successful outcome I would not hesitate to undertake a similar project 1.8t MG ZT should another one come along. Not exactly rare as the proverbial but I have been watching out and waiting for a suitable opportunity for a project ZT Petrol Turbo car for three years now. Then, imagine my surprise when another did cone along within a month of the first one ~ less than two miles from where I live. So ....
Yes, bought another one. Viewed it, started it, liked it, bought it warts and all. There are a few. Damaged Cylinder Head Gasket and possible turbocharger seals wear. Cosmetically a nicer car than No. 1 but much lower spec. Here it is :~
Yes, very nice exterior but, very dirty engine compartment even after I had removed many dead leaves and brushed away bits of trees. Car had been parked up under a stand of Lombardy Poplars which had dumped numerous bits and pieces on the car as it came into full leaf. Many leaves, catkins and twiglets making their wind driven way under the trailing edge of the bonnet near the windscreen. :~
Collected it 10.30 this morning and booked it in for an MoT with 1.30 appointment :~
First up, the emissions. Remember, I had little experience with this car having owned it all of three hours so unknowns like emissions are a worry. However, delighted when all greens came up soon after the sensor was placed into the exhaust pipe. :~
All very good until right at the end of the test when the very last item checked, the offside rear spring was found to be broken. Typical !
Can't win 'em all but even so, delighted with the car so far :~
ZT No. 1 still shaping nicely.
Well, helps to pass the time at my age ...
=============================
Yes, bought another one. Viewed it, started it, liked it, bought it warts and all. There are a few. Damaged Cylinder Head Gasket and possible turbocharger seals wear. Cosmetically a nicer car than No. 1 but much lower spec. Here it is :~
Yes, very nice exterior but, very dirty engine compartment even after I had removed many dead leaves and brushed away bits of trees. Car had been parked up under a stand of Lombardy Poplars which had dumped numerous bits and pieces on the car as it came into full leaf. Many leaves, catkins and twiglets making their wind driven way under the trailing edge of the bonnet near the windscreen. :~
Collected it 10.30 this morning and booked it in for an MoT with 1.30 appointment :~
First up, the emissions. Remember, I had little experience with this car having owned it all of three hours so unknowns like emissions are a worry. However, delighted when all greens came up soon after the sensor was placed into the exhaust pipe. :~
All very good until right at the end of the test when the very last item checked, the offside rear spring was found to be broken. Typical !
Can't win 'em all but even so, delighted with the car so far :~ZT No. 1 still shaping nicely.
Well, helps to pass the time at my age ...
For a few pence under £75, not worth getting my hands dirty.
Along with a new Rear Spring ( £39.58p from UNIPART ) Dropped the keys off to my repair man just after 8am and thirty minutes and £35 later the old spring had been removed and the new one in its place. One of the bolts securing the Anti Roll Bar main support bushes sheered off but they soon had that out and fitted a new one in seconds. Really glad I did not do the job myself now. At floor level that would have been time consuming hard work for me. Far easier at eye level high up on the workshop hoist ramp.
He showed me the old broken spring along with about a dozen from other cars he has done recently. Very common problem now particularly with BMW 3-Series apparently.
I had DIY sorted the poor screen washer jet performance yesterday so the car was all ready for the free MoT retest @: 5.15 that afternoon. After that, I shall tackle the Cylinder Head Gasket when I feel like doing that. Lets hope that's all it needs. Car is a nice example showing less than 75,000 miles.
=============
Along with a new Rear Spring ( £39.58p from UNIPART ) Dropped the keys off to my repair man just after 8am and thirty minutes and £35 later the old spring had been removed and the new one in its place. One of the bolts securing the Anti Roll Bar main support bushes sheered off but they soon had that out and fitted a new one in seconds. Really glad I did not do the job myself now. At floor level that would have been time consuming hard work for me. Far easier at eye level high up on the workshop hoist ramp.
He showed me the old broken spring along with about a dozen from other cars he has done recently. Very common problem now particularly with BMW 3-Series apparently.
I had DIY sorted the poor screen washer jet performance yesterday so the car was all ready for the free MoT retest @: 5.15 that afternoon. After that, I shall tackle the Cylinder Head Gasket when I feel like doing that. Lets hope that's all it needs. Car is a nice example showing less than 75,000 miles.
.... and NO advisories!5.15 pm whilst you wait appointment sharp for free MoT retest. Given thumbs up. Pleased about that. Up on the ramps to check the fitting of the new spring, got a close up image using flash ... it's dark in there ...
MoT tester told me he finds broken springs at least once a day on the cars he tests. Sometimes as many as three cars with broken suspension springs on one day! Having seen the pile of broken springs this morning when I had my one done I can believe that..
Next ... removal of the turbocharger and cylinder head to see what delights or horrors that will reveal .... ever onwards ..
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