Overheating & Head Gasket (confirmed head gasket)

[MH3.0R]

Well, don't know the full costs yet, but I had all the seals, seats, faces, guides and stems done (full recondition) while the heads were off. Some delays in getting the heads back (late last week) and should be finished tomorrow. They have indicated a 4500+ price tag. Those bloody heads had better be gold plated when I get em back!

[MH3.0R]

Got the car back today and all seems good. Cost was 4500 as expected. 1000 of that was from the 3.0R gasket set, twice the cost of the 2.0 or 2.5 set. Anyway, all done now and will be "running in" for a few kms before using the force! Will start logging and checking oil /water to see make sure all is good.

Well that has set me back in the mod department for a while, unless there are a few cheapies I can do? Would have liked some wheels and brakes, maybe next year!

[jdm rsk]

put the boot into it straight away and get those rings bedded in

[Ric]

As I read it, the block wasn't touched, only the heads, so he still has the same (already bedded in) rings.

[jdm rsk]

As I read it, the block wasn't touched, only the heads, so he still has the same (already bedded in) rings.

that makes it easy then ric

[MH3.0R]

Guys,

Ric is correct, nothing but a head job, and the most expensive one ever!!!

[THERB3]

Guys,

Ric is correct, nothing but a head job, and the most expensive one ever!!!

That doesn't sound right Mark.

[MH3.0R]

So after running the vehicle for 3 full days and topping up the coolant to remove the residual air pockets, I have seen a maximum of 96 degrees in start/stop traffic and very little coolant consumption with no signs of exhaust residue in the coolant. Constatnt running temp at cruise speed has dropped to 84 degrees. So, I think all is fixed!

[MH3.0R]

Guys,

I am pretty confident the issue is corrected, confirmed by monitoring the engine temp and Intake Air Temp over the week with a couple of different trips. The worst one to date was a cruise on the Monash out bound and then on to East Link (to avoid the Stud Road to Sth Gipps junction and bottleneck). Took the Keysborough Bypass and rejoined the Sth Gipps. IAT was sitting at 15 degrees, Water Temp was stable at cruising speed at 84 degrees.

Then I hit the road works on the Sth Gipp and all stoop and start for the next 20 minutes. Observe the Water Temp gradually climb to 95 degrees, fans came on full and temp dropped back to 92 degrees. This pattern was repeated about 10 times over the 20 minutes. The maximum temp was capped at 95 degrees, so that was a good test from my perspective and prior to the replacement of the head gaskets, I would have seen 111 degrees under those circumstances.

Can also confirm, that after the initial top up of the coolant, I have not had to add a drop!

An interesting observation during the Water Temp oscillation between 92 and 95 degrees, was the Intake Air Temp (IAT). Obvious;y, in stop start conditions, the engine bay will accumulate warm air and I thought that would not create any issue as our vehicle have a direct over the radiator Cold Air Intake. What I observed was a gradual and steady climb of IAT from the 15 degrees at highway cruise to 61 degrees during the stop start mode. I did not expect to see those sort of temps in winter!

It has also caused me to question the design and capacity of the 3.0R cooling system. A 16mm radiator core is obviously at it limits to manage the normal thermal load and relys heavily on the two stage fans to work. Any problem with the fans and the radiator by itself does not have the thermal capacity to cool the engine.

I am wondering if any others have arrived at the same conclusion and if anyone have found an aftermarket radiator core that can be fitted without any front end mods?

Also, is there an alternative (like Engine Oil cooling system) that can be done to supplement the engine cooling?

Kind Regards,

Mark

[Sentinel]

Guys,

Ric is correct, nothing but a head job, and the most expensive one ever!!!

Mark - you're clearly going to the wrong place mate. Try one without a red light...

On a car note - glad you've got it all sorted out. Bit ouchy on the cost! That explains the wheels off the list from Harry. Ah well mate. I guess you'll be keeping her for a while to get the most of that fix!

Looking forward to the cruise then eh?

[smythie]

An interesting observation during the Water Temp oscillation between 92 and 95 degrees, was the Intake Air Temp (IAT). Obvious;y, in stop start conditions, the engine bay will accumulate warm air and I thought that would not create any issue as our vehicle have a direct over the radiator Cold Air Intake. What I observed was a gradual and steady climb of IAT from the 15 degrees at highway cruise to 61 degrees during the stop start mode. I did not expect to see those sort of temps in winter!

It has also caused me to question the design and capacity of the 3.0R cooling system. A 16mm radiator core is obviously at it limits to manage the normal thermal load and relys heavily on the two stage fans to work. Any problem with the fans and the radiator by itself does not have the thermal capacity to cool the engine.

I am wondering if any others have arrived at the same conclusion and if anyone have found an aftermarket radiator core that can be fitted without any front end mods?

Also, is there an alternative (like Engine Oil cooling system) that can be done to supplement the engine cooling?

Kind Regards,

Mark

The heat wasted during combustion has to go somewhere. In comparison to your current radiator a bigger radiator isn't going to reduce the amount of heat in the engine bay in stop/start traffic.

IMO, short of sticking extra radiators (coolant or oil) elsewhere on the car you won't reduce the amount of heat discharged into the air of the engine bay.

[MH3.0R]

The heat wasted during combustion has to go somewhere. In comparison to your current radiator a bigger radiator isn't going to reduce the amount of heat in the engine bay in stop/start traffic.

IMO, short of sticking extra radiators (coolant or oil) elsewhere on the car you won't reduce the amount of heat discharged into the air of the engine bay.

Smythie, agree on those point. The IAT was just a surprise for me as we have CAI on our vehicles as standard. I guess under stop start conditions, the air flow is minimal and therefore the engine bay temp will have more influence on the IAT than the CAI.

What I am really interested in though, is the concept of reducing the Water (Engine) Temp under high load / stop start conditions and I realise this willtake a better form of cooling system, just looking for anyone who has done it previously without the body shopping stuff.

Kind Regards,

Mark.

[MH3.0R]

Guys,

Ric is correct, nothing but a head job, and the most expensive one ever!!!

Mark - you're clearly going to the wrong place mate. Try one without a red light...

On a car note - glad you've got it all sorted out. Bit ouchy on the cost! That explains the wheels off the list from Harry. Ah well mate. I guess you'll be keeping her for a while to get the most of that fix!

Looking forward to the cruise then eh?

Steve,

Definitely a keeper and now hungrier than ever for mods, just no mulah to effect them! Finance Minister has started to look at home improvements and I am not in a position to say no, I need wheels! And yes, looking forward to the cruise. Taking a trip to Sale tomorrow and will most probably do the Strezlecki stretch on the way up and maybe even on the way home.

Kind Regards,

Mark.

[Jonty]

Sorry to bump an old thread. An interesting read as I've just taken delivery of a 2007 3.0R-B from Melbourne which appears to have a stuffed head gasket

Will be sorting it out under the dealer warranty, but still very annoying when you buy a car that straight away needs major work like this. Just shows if the price is too good to be true, walk away

[MH3.0R]

Sorry to hear of your woes, but, they are very nice cars. I have added about another 50% increase in power and torque since this thread stopped, and the smile on my dial is still wider than a Cheshire cats!

Is yours manual or auto? Color? Did you start an intro thread?

EDIT: Found your intro. Pics needed.