chicken gravy for oil???????

[blues n 2s]

need help pls guys!after car bein sick &clouds of white thought my head gasket gone.never goes anywhere just tick over in garden.oil like chicken gravy made me think h/gasket,however after a couple of mths no funds etc thought "got to do it"took head off but gasket looks fine. DOH!!car has been runnin rich(valves black pistons too.) my knowledge is fairly ltd,i know i must get head checked(visually ok)but if i get it back &is good.what else could it be?also thinkin of gettin head work done as it is off,any recommendations of what &who could assist in nw.cheers guys hope you can help cos if it wasn't for bad luck i would have non:

[Tonks4x4]

If the car does not go anywhere and you just had it at tickover when running, you would prob find it was only steam they are all seem to do it.

[blues n 2s]

If the car does not go anywhere and you just had it at tickover when running, you would prob find it was only steam they are all seem to do it.

r you saying i stripped my engine for nothingwas lots of white smoke what about gravy??

[Tonks4x4]

Was it getting hot?
When you say the oil was like gravey do you mean litterally a brown ish colour?
When was it last serviced?
Was it loosing any water?
How long has it been off the road?
What other "Sick" symptoms did it have?

[blues n 2s]

Was it getting hot?
When you say the oil was like gravey do you mean litterally a brown ish colour?
When was it last serviced?
Was it loosing any water?
How long has it been off the road?
What other "Sick" symptoms did it have?

has been off road 2yrs an fluids changed then.oil was cloudy no froth/scum oil was always crystal clear.chicken gravy not beefcant honestly remember if it lost water just know it stunk like h/gasket gone.other symptoms was runnin intermittently but when removed p/leads(individually) made no differance.press accelerator just cut out,not start again.would be ok one day and like described another.always got to operating temp but not too hot.cant remember a lot due to circumstances,get this on track tho an life will have some meanin

[Knight Rider S4]

Oil cooler will be rotten and you will be getting water mixing through oil more than likely causing this...

[blues n 2s]

Oil cooler will be rotten and you will be getting water mixing through oil more than likely causing this...

thanks.will check tomorrow anything else worth checkin.feel like screaming AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.thats better.any thoughts on head work peeps seem silly not to as head is off.thinkin of makin it more competative hate vxr's

[Tonks4x4]

I would build it back up and try running it more often on the road if you can. When I got mine it had all the same symptoms even had the creamy residue in the cap!!! It turned out that it was just through being stood for a long while. By the time I drove it back from Plymouth to Nottingham it was fine and has been since.

[blues n 2s]

I would build it back up and try running it more often on the road if you can. When I got mine it had all the same symptoms even had the creamy residue in the cap!!! It turned out that it was just through being stood for a long while. By the time I drove it back from Plymouth to Nottingham it was fine and has been since.

thanks mate. feel stupid, expensive mistake

[Tonks4x4]

As to you other question of headwork, a full polish and port job will be 500+ quid to get done or you could search the forum for how to do it yourself.But my opinion is get it built back up, get it on the road then just keep on top of other jobs that need doing. There will be plenty to do At least you get your enjoyment without huge costs and being off the road for ages.

When it's on the road you could always look out for a second hand 7a head. Get all the mods done and then swap it in an afternoon and then recoup some of the cost by selling on your old head...

[blues n 2s]

will a 7a head fit on my 3b block?cost approx?should i clean valves&pistons?how?

[Tonks4x4]

will a 7a head fit on my 3b block?cost approx?should i clean valves&pistons?how?

Yes a 7A head is a direct replacement for the 3B head but it will need a little machining for the extra water rail which costs about £50
The 7A is the 2.3 20V non turbo and therfore has had an easier life so is less likely to have tiny cracks from the valves to the spark plugs like most other heads. Also the 7A has a slightly higher lift on the exhaust cam. Keep your ear to the ground and an eye on eBay I have bought 7A engines for as little as £40

The block can also be used but you would need different pistons for the lower compression. The bore size is 82.5mm instead of 81 like the 3B, AAN, ABY and ADU engine.

Relap the valves on your head if you like with grinding paste etc. I would not personally go to town too much with cleaning the pistons as they soon get coked up again.

I would save all the maticulous work for when you do the proper job.

[blues n 2s]

sounds like aplan:mischeif:will be in touch nearer the time for advice on 7a idea.last q's which oil's best an plugs have diff'rent ones in?thank you oh mighty1

[Tonks4x4]

sounds like aplan:mischeif:will be in touch nearer the time for advice on 7a idea.last q's which oil's best an plugs have diff'rent ones in?thank you oh mighty1

I use one of the following Valvoline products

3b 5 Litres
SynPower XL-III 5W-30
DuraBlend 10W-40
Turbo 10W-40

ABY, AAN, ADU 5 Litres
SynPower XL-III 5W-30
SynPower MXL 0W-30
SynPower 0W-40

And I use genuine filters and genuine spark plugs.