Help Head Gasket Issue

Hi guys, first off I am new here so please be gentle..

Ok so I recently bought my first Raptor a 2011 one with a whipple supercharger kit on it. It was done here in Dubai by a company from the states ( I will remember who and post, also this was done before I purchased it )

So my problem is the car overheated while the Mrs was driving it and as I don't have the facilities at home to sort it I took it to the one and only Ford dealer here in Dubai.

My question is does anyone know the recommended service times from Ford to carry out a compression test and cylinder leak down test ?

Also does anyone know the times for doing head gaskets should it come to that. Thanks in advance

I would think a compression test would be about 2 hours of labor. They have to remove one spark plug at a time and crank the engine over. 2 hours at most.

A cylinder leak down test, they may let that sit over night to see if it loses pressure.

What makes you think it blew a head gasket? How bad did it get over heated?

What caused it to over heat?

Yukon Joe

If it comes down to a blown headgasket, id just consider it a basket case

Hi guys thanks for the replies.

She got it to the top of the temperature gauge and the engine hot warning came up probably drove it for 10-15kms after.

There is a leak on the radiator which they have found by doing the pressure test.

I agree with your point about the compression test and the leak down, the dealers wouldn't let it sit overnight as they are not that bothered so 15 mins max I would have thought.

Why would you consider it done if the head gaskets had failed ?

The problem I have is I don't trust the Ford dealer one bit and I doubt their technical ability ! They tell me that it has passed a coolant HC test so that's a positive sign. I might have call in and collect an oil sample for analysis, just to confirm.

I wish I had the space at home to do it myself I hate giving dealing with garages.

Thanks so far guys

How bad did it overheat? When they go to take that head off there could end up being more damage then expected. I had a car overheat and I was advised to just walk away from it. I was told even after repairing the head gasket it would just never be truly right again

A couple of things to look for by yourself,
Is there oil floating in the coolant, ether in the radiator or overflow?
When you place your hands over the exhaust, does it seem like there is a small amount of suction?
How does the exhaust smell? like there's anti freeze?
Is the engine running rough, missing or shaking more than normal?

These engines can take a lot, but if it was overheating and you kept on driving hard, things will happen.

MTF said:

A couple of things to look for by yourself,
Is there oil floating in the coolant, ether in the radiator or overflow?
When you place your hands over the exhaust, does it seem like there is a small amount of suction?
How does the exhaust smell? like there's anti freeze?
Is the engine running rough, missing or shaking more than normal?

These engines can take a lot, but if it was overheating and you kept on driving hard, things will happen.

Click to expand...

I should have explained myself a little better, I have a lot of experience with engines right upto the 10,000hp Gas Engine currently in the workshop but I havent got the time to pull it apart myself.

The car was loosing coolant because of the radiator. I asked them to remove the SDHQ (CBR) alloy radiator that is installed and we pressure tested it here in my workshop and found it was leaking across the transfer tubes. I have now had the radiator fully re-cored and upgraded with larger tubes for more cooling effiency.

The radiator was dropped off to Ford yesterday and they have just emailed to say they have installed it and all seems ok, so they are taking it for an extended road test then they will check it again.

All of the quick checks, oil in water, coolant smell in exhaust, exhaust manifold temperature were done at the side of the road, there was a little missfire at around 2500rpm but to be honest I think it was there before that (probably a plug or the tune that is one it (it has a supercharger fitted so it has a custom map, which is probably just generic) ). It wasnt driven hard when it overheated it was driven for around 20kms.

Thanks for all of your help and advice I really appreciate it and I hope to become an active member of this forum as you all seem alright.

Thanks

Mike

Extended test drive!!! Lol, bet the tech's are fighting over who gets to take it and try and overheat the engine

I'm sure your head gaskets will be OK , sounds like you were just low on water from the leak. I think the truck has protections, if the temp gets to extreme it will start dropping cylinders and running real rough. Allowing engine to still run but at very reduced power.