Any mechanics out there?

[captainmorganrum]

What is wrong with my car?

Driving home from work yesterday…
(1) the temperature gauge moved from it’s usual ½ way position into the red zone
(2) plumes of silver/grey smoke come out of my exhaust
(3) the smoke goes away
(4) the temperature gauge slides down to a ‘cold’ position (unusual)
(5) engine develops a metallic grating sound
(6) getting out of the car, the exhaust fumes are really noxious.

Any help?

 

[tedebear]

starts with f and ends with £££££

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news....

 

[captainmorganrum]

starts with f and ends with £££££

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news....

I'll be happy with £££££, I'm expecting that.

I'm dreading it being ££££££££££

 

[tedebear]

Whats your car?

 

[captainmorganrum]

Rover 200, R reg.
Passed the MOT in Feb.
Had the coolant water checked and replaced in a service then as well.

Can only that the water has leaked.

 

[tedebear]

Nope, I doubt its only the water, from the grating sounds - which is more than likely a thrown rod or piston....I'd be guessing someone would have to take the head off and you'll find a shed load of water sitting in with the oil looking a bit like mayonaise...grating noise in an engine is usually nasty....but fingers crossed, it could just be a head gasket failure, which isn't too bad but labour intensive, but the grating noise usually doesn't indicate that...

The last time the race car made grating noises - there was a hole thrown through the side of the block about the size of a fist!! half a piston was embedded in the engine mount!!

 

[tedebear]

Have you tried to start it this morning? Cross your fingers it hasn't seized!!

 

[captainmorganrum]

Have you tried to start it this morning? Cross your fingers it hasn't seized!!

Scared too!
Didn't think of the seizing.
:gulp:

Will ring the missus (home with bubba*) and ask her to try turning it.

Cars eh?

*we NEED a car to get little Dylan here and there.
:bugger:

 

[tedebear]

Sorry I didn't mean to frighten you - its the worst case scenario I've thought of first!! Hope its not that bad really....

 

[Lord Bracknell]

Have you tried to start it this morning? Cross your fingers it hasn't seized!!

The correct phraseology to use for this question is:-

Have you tried switching it off and back on again?

 

[nail-Z]

Rovers are notorious for blowing head gaskets aren't they?

My advice would be to turn the radio up and ignore it.

 

[Nemesis]

Rovers are notorious for blowing head gaskets aren't they?

My advice would be to turn the radio up and ignore it.

God bless the Rover K series engines-we have the solution to their oil in water problems

 

[NMH]

Rovers are notorious for blowing head gaskets aren't they?

My advice would be to turn the radio up and ignore it.

Yep, sounds like a gasket to me - the silver-grey smoke would be coolant water in the cylinders (where only petrol fumes and a little lubricating oil should be. Too much oil being burned would produce sooty, or black smoke). The nasty grating noise also suggests water, as the piston rings would probably scrape and soon burn the cylinders. The 'noxious' smell will be the anti-freeze, mixed with petrol and oil fules.

No idea why the temp guage would plummet, except perhaps that the thermostat is switching off through lack of pressure....or something.

Don't run the car any more. It has to be repaired.




Another time to turn off the car immediately, would be when a 'bang' comes from the engine - as it's likely to be the timing belt snapping. To try running it still, will probably destroy pistons, cylinders, valves and push-rods, and more. No choice but to stop, call a tow-truck, and break out the cheque book.

 

[captainmorganrum]

Yep, sounds like a gasket to me - the silver-grey smoke would be coolant water in the cylinders (where only petrol fumes and a little lubricating oil should be.

Don't run the car any more. It has to be repaired. ....break out the cheque book.

Anyone know how much I'm looking at for a new Rover engine and labour?

 

[Nemesis]

Anyone know how much I'm looking at for a new Rover engine and labour?

What model and how old is the car? The question is whether it's worth doing or not.

Click the link-you might find somebody local who can help quite inexpensively.

(there a quite a few in your area-I just checked)

 

[captainmorganrum]

What model and how old is the car? The question is whether it's worth doing or not.

Click the link-you might find somebody local who can help quite inexpensively.

(there a quite a few in your area-I just checked)

Cheers for the info mate
(I had sigs turned off so wondered 'what link?' so turned them on again)

 

[NMH]

Anyone know how much I'm looking at for a new Rover engine and labour?

"new Rover engine" ?? Why not just get the gasket replaced...or have you already seized it beyond repair?

 

[tedebear]

"new Rover engine" ?? Why not just get the gasket replaced...or have you already seized it beyond repair?

I'd say the temperature sender has probably melted which is why it read cold, it didn't actually "read" cold it was just completely busted....

I'd say if he lucky its just a simple head gasket, but the pistons rings have dried and thats not good, and if its got to any considerable temperature the head has probably warped and a new gasket won't seal anyhow...

Quiet interested to know the outcome now!

 

[captainmorganrum]

Originally posted by tedebear Quiet interested to know the outcome now!

[/B]

I'll let you know once I know.....quietly!

 

[tedebear]

ok

Quite I should have said