Engine boiled up on M20 due to leaky hose. Fixed., but then all symptoms pointed to a blown head gasket - excess pressure in rad and expansion bottle - water everywhere, even when cold etc etc Have removed head, but no signs of split or blown gasket. In fact it looks OK. I'm used to working on "normal" cars where blown gaskets are quite obvious.Are no apparant signs normal on a Townie? Any useful tips when refitting? What should head be torqued to ( I've got the manual for sequence etc)Is it worth having the head skimmed and what would be a reasonable cost?
Any help/advice will be much appreciated.
- (#13653) gordon davies, 7 Oct 04 14:42

It would be wise to have the head checked for flatness and for cracks. Even a minor crack will open up under heat and might cause the symtoms you describe.I had my spare head skimmed and pressure tested for approx £55. Is your manual the Toyota one, code RMO25E, if so the torque figures are on page EM-66, ie, 450 kg-cm /33 ft/lb,/ 44 N with two extra 90 degree turns. The latest type of gasket is a laminated metallic type and this, together with 18 bolts should cost around £80/90.
Any advice? Yes, do make sure that the block waterways, between the cylinders, are free of debris and, of course, all the other water passages. Check the head for a machined mark between the valves. If this mark is not there then the head has already been skimmed to it's limit.

- (#13653) John Davis (Leics), 7 Oct 04 15:12

Cheers John
I'm hoping the gasket set will arrive tomorrow.I'll certainly take your advice and get the head tested before re-fitting. Only problem is who and where ? Yellow pages here we come.

- (#13653) gordon davies, 7 Oct 04 16:29