Fabia Mk1 1.4p 8v Cooling system problem

[sepulchrave]

A nice new TEMAC gasket and all you have to do is put petrol in it for another ten years.

[TMB]

Just now, sepulchrave said:

A nice new TEMAC gasket and all you have to do is put petrol in it for another ten years.

 

If only 😁

[TMB]

Just spent 20 mins giving the head a good blow (ooh Matron!). Got lots of swarf out but no more coming out now. Would have started putting the engine back together as it's lovely outside but I have a dental appointment in a few hours. Bah

[sepulchrave]

You can still get a decent amount done before the dentists, strong winds from tomorrow will make things tricky unless you can work under cover.

[TMB]

31 minutes ago, sepulchrave said:

You can still get a decent amount done before the dentists, strong winds from tomorrow will make things tricky unless you can work under cover.

 

Don't want to get dirty though. I guess there's no rush as my mate lends me his car if I need it.

[TMB]

Head back on, torqued up and manifolds refitted. Most other things reassembled, just bits and bobs to do. Want to give it a coolant flush and do the initial valve settings. Weather is supposed to be shit for the next couple of days, so will have to be patient.

 

Edited 7 February, 2020 by TMB

[TMB]

If anyone's doing this job and wants to know what all the holes are, here's a pic...

 

 

 

Edited 7 February, 2020 by TMB

[TMB]

Bit of good weather this morning, so tappets set and all done apart from cooling system flush but I need a break from it as my back is aching 😣

 

 

 

[TMB]

OMG it won't go. Starter motor sounds all wrong as though there is hardly any compression. I set the valves to the letter so god knows what's going on.

[sepulchrave]

Check the valves are closing properly, set number 1 on compression and check the tappet clearances.

[TMB]

23 hours ago, sepulchrave said:

Check the valves are closing properly, set number 1 on compression and check the tappet clearances.

 

Holy fuck it's going! It was the tappets. I follwed the Skoda instructions to the letter but they needed backing off. There is no actual clearance just so many turns of the screw to set preload. If I set them so that there is just to say no play it runs.

 

This didn't work...

 

Edited 9 February, 2020 by TMB

[sepulchrave]

I would have expected the tappets to be too tight because the head was skimmed. 

[TMB]

25 minutes ago, sepulchrave said:

I would have expected the tappets to be too tight because the head was skimmed. 

 

I know but I'd already adjusted them. Just drove it a few miles and it drives fine but it's definitely tappety. Will have to tinker with them again later. I'm not even sure the car is fixed because after the drive there was tons of pressure in the cooling system. More than I would think normal. Time will tell.

[Alexandru]

Are you sure that pressure isn't actually air ? I think I had to bleed the cooling system each time I flushed the coolant. 

[TMB]

Just now, Alexandru said:

Are you sure that pressure isn't actually air ? I think I had to bleed the cooling system each time I flushed the coolant. 

 

Yes it could be an airlock Alex.

[Alexandru]

is it overheating ? 

[TMB]

Just now, Alexandru said:

is it overheating ? 

 

No, and the heater works OK.

[Alexandru]

Did you replace the oil ? Mine was having noisy tappets with old oil / contaminated with petrol / combined with faulty O2 sensors. Once the oil was replaced everything was back to normal. 

[TMB]

I did.

[Breezy_Pete]

52 minutes ago, TMB said:

Time will tell

 

I think it's probably entirely normal to be a bit paranoid after such a big repair.  I predict that all will be well.

[TMB]

Hope so Pete. It's such a nice little thing to drive that I'd hate to lose it. I'm sure it just needs to settle down.

[TMB]

 

The bits of smoke are just oil burning off manifold bolt threads.

 

Edited 8 February, 2020 by TMB

[Alexandru]

I swear, your engine sounds way better than mine. 

[TMB]

21 minutes ago, Alexandru said:

I swear, your engine sounds way better than mine. 

 

I think yours has more miles?

[Alexandru]

Yes, around 143.000 miles on clock.