ive found wated in the oil of my 1990 escort,was told its a creacked head or head?

Question

gasket has gone,but the car still runs what would happen to the car would it heat seize on me ive got to make a 400 mile round tripp in it next week thanks

Answer 1

if you drive the car with coolant getting into the oil, you have a chance of 2 things happening. it will overheat due to being low on coolant or the engine will grind itself to dust since coolant is a very poor lubricant. it may just need a head gasket. if it needs a head, get a remanufactured head along with a timing belt and water pump. don't drive it till it's repaired.

Answer 2

A second-hand cylinder head from a breakers yard is probably your cheapest option for a repair.

I once had a cracked head on a Mk1 1600 Escort Mexico. I had it skimmed, but it didn't fix it. Although I was planning on rebuilding an another engine for it anyway, so drove it around like this for about a year!

It was fine as long as the fluid levels were checked regularly.
I didn't drive a 400 mile round trip, though. That might have been a bit to much!

Joining the AA or RAC recovery service seems like a good idea.

Answer 3

Hi

If you only ever drive short journeys then you will not allow the engine to get hot enough to boil out the condensation from the engine oil and this will give the visual impression that the head gasket or cylinder head has failed.

If, however, you are regularly having to top up your coolant then you have a problem and you need to get it fixed.

Keep an eye on your oil level as well as the coolant level because if coolant is being dumped in there then the oil level will gradually go up, and once again, you have a problem and you need to get it fixed.

Basically, if the oil level is going up and/or the coolant level is going down then you have a head problem which requires attention before you drive anywhere.

Cheers

Geordie

Answer 4

Look at your oil filler cap (inside) if you've got a white creamy gunk on it then you do have a water oil mix caused by one of the above. If its the gasket, get it changed BEFORE your trip. If you have a cracked head then thats expensive and on a car that old Im afraid, probably not worth the money.

Answer 5

don't drive it except to the mechanic, you could also have a blown intake manifold gasket which will have the same symptoms as a head gasket, they both allow water into the engine oil and that causes the oil to thin out and wash down the cylinder walls causing your engine to seize.

Answer 6

If you have a cracked head or blown head gasket, I don't think I would try to go anywhere in it until it is fixed. It certainly won't go 400 miles.

Answer 7

you dont say what type of engine you have i;e hcs cvh zetec is the head cast iron or alloy water in the oil wont lubericate the engine if the head is cracked you would have oil in the water (oil works at higher pressure than water) so if there is a crack you get oil in the water normaly have the head machined and refit with a new gasket drain the oil flush with flushing oil and refil with new oil

Answer 8

drill a 1/8inch hole in the thermostat disk and replace it . this will allow it to warm up without pushing all the coolant out of the head causing an over heating problem .if you just found milky stuff on the dip stick that's because its so far away from a heat souse it collects there

Answer 9

join the aa before you go as it will go in the end and the water will pit the head and cause damage as it dosnt combust the car will run hot in the end and when you turn it of water will start to fill the bores up and it will hydralic the engine up

Answer 10

Yeah yuo shouldnt go anywhere, go to a rental place and rent one, unlimited miles GET INSURANCE. you will break down and you'll be stuck on the side off the road calling a towtruck. Dont be stupid.