andyborris
Posted a lot
Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose.
Posts: 2,158
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Oct 28, 2016 18:06:36 GMT
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Did a sniff test on my BMW engine Triumph, using one of these Ebay kits linkIt didn't turn yellow, but it did have a lot gas/air going through the test tube, it was even almost sucking the test liquid into the header tank! Like this Opinions and advice please, the instructions are vague, "WARNING! During the test does not allow for mixing of Antifreezer with Reaction fluid ! In the case of mixing a fluid test result may be invalid !!" is a bit unclear, the coolant has anti-freeze in it....do I drain it and replace with pure water? Thanks |
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Rich
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 6,239 
Club RR Member Number: 160
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Oct 28, 2016 18:11:46 GMT
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The engrish instructions just mean if your coolant gets into the reactive fluid it means the result of the test is to be discarded and re-attempted. You can leave your antifreeze in to carry out the test.
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Oct 28, 2016 22:38:01 GMT
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Personally, I've always found sniff tests a little inconclusive. I've rarely seen a positive test, which would be great as it would confirm a fault, but I wouldn't take a negative test as proof the hg is ok.
As previously mentioned the antifreeze thing just means don't let coolant mix with the fluid.
Back in the days (as in when it was still in production) of k series failures, a good method of detection was to dangle the emissions gas analyser probe near the opening of the expansion tank. Any exhaust gas present would send the hc reading through the roof.
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Current cars:-
2001 P38 Range Rover 4.0 V8 (economical family run about)
1980 Mini Clubman estate (very much in a state!)rolling shell project
1976 Reliant Robin saloon
1998 kawasaki zzr 600 (the commuter)
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steveg
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,563
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Oct 28, 2016 22:54:48 GMT
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All of the times I have had head gasket problems where exhaust gas could get into the coolant, the coolant has also got back into the engine. Normally a clean plug or at least one that looked cleaner then the rest. My brothers Renault used to fill a cylinder up with coolant when you switched it off. The guys at the garage where I worked used to dangle the exhaust probe over the header tank as a quick check.
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andyborris
Posted a lot
Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose.
Posts: 2,158
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Thanks, I'll ask at the local garage and check the plugs.
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andyborris
Posted a lot
Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose.
Posts: 2,158
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Asked at the local garage, no idea what I was talking about! But pulled the plugs and this is what I found  That's from right to left, number 3 and 6. New engine time I think..... |
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Rich
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 6,239
Club RR Member Number: 160
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Hm. I wonder why those plugs are different plugs though. I wonder if its just had a couple of plugs chucked in to replace failing ones which could account for the difference? maybe?
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andyborris
Posted a lot
Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose.
Posts: 2,158
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Oct 29, 2016 10:13:05 GMT
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Good point, they are all the correct BMW/NGK, I did sort through the pile to find the best ones though.
They were all the same colour when they went in.......about a year before the engine ran, to stop cr*p getting in the cylinders.
I have read on the internet (the font of all truth!) that M52 engines that have had steel liners fitted to cure the Nikasil problem can have problems with the liners shrinking! Which causes head gasket problems......
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andyborris
Posted a lot
Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose.
Posts: 2,158
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Oct 29, 2016 10:17:50 GMT
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I think I'll swap the plugs around, run the engine and see if it cleans the plugs.
Then I'll offer it as a service, "plugs cleaned while you wait"!
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steveg
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,563
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Oct 29, 2016 14:00:11 GMT
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Seeing as they are the two odd ones a fresh set might be worth a try. What running problems are you getting ? Are you running with orange antifreeze, I've had blue/green plug in the past.
I'm quite pleased one of my suggestions was actually a good one for a change, not so great if it does prove there is a problem with the car though.
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Last Edit: Oct 29, 2016 14:02:05 GMT by steveg
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Oct 29, 2016 14:18:57 GMT
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plugs are cheap, stick a new set in.
done a compression test yet?
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bortaf
Posted a lot
Posts: 4,549
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Oct 29, 2016 14:27:10 GMT
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TBH i usually pop round my local MOT station and get him to stick the Ex gas analizer probe in the header tank to check for EX fumes coming out ?
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R.I.P photobucket
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ian65
Part of things
Posts: 276
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Oct 29, 2016 15:07:32 GMT
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leak down test is the best way to confirm either way.... I've never had much success with those sniff kits either.
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andyborris
Posted a lot
Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose.
Posts: 2,158
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Oct 29, 2016 15:37:49 GMT
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What running problems are you getting ? This is a follow on question from this Thread. Basically, untested used engine, some misdirection via a coolant gauge gave a misdiagnosis at first. Cooling system is pressurizing, top hose gets very hard  , spitting litres out of the header tank, getting 120c hot, yet the bottom hose is cool, electric fan can bring the temp down, but not reduce the gurgling and spitting. New and tested thermostat, replaced the water pump, checked the rad for flow. Will now replace engine, if problem persists, redesign cooling system, again. |
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Oct 29, 2016 15:53:49 GMT
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bmw's do run hot and they do run a higher pressure in their cooling systems.
is a hg not cheaper than another engine?
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Oct 29, 2016 16:46:42 GMT
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which radiator are you running in your triumph, is it the BMW one matched to that specific engine?
not sure what size m52 you have but if youre running a smaller radiator for a larger m52 then you might well be overheating because of that..
someone told me-regards m50s anyway that even a radiator off a 2 litre m50 isnt going to stop and 2.5L from overheating..?
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steveg
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,563
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Oct 29, 2016 18:00:31 GMT
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Is the water pump working properly although you said you have changed it ? Sounds like the coolant isn't going through the radiator for some reason. Perhaps there is a conflict with the direction of the water flow somewhere. The heater on the BMW doesn't stay hot all the time or something does it and the triumph one stop the flow completely when switched off.
I was expecting you to say you had a missfire or something, this is a bit more complicated.
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Last Edit: Oct 29, 2016 18:01:21 GMT by steveg
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andyborris
Posted a lot
Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose.
Posts: 2,158
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Oct 29, 2016 21:14:53 GMT
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It's a shiny new alloy Golf rad, which I checked by backfilling with hot water, not blocked. The water is being cooled, it's filling up with exhaust gas!
I think the cooling system is capable of dealing with the heat the engine generates, the electric fan holds the temp at 80c, but it still gurgles and spits as if it was boiling.
BMW M52 engines don't take well to being boiled and have you seen the prices of gasket sets for a BMW engine?!
Thanks everyone for trying to cheer me up, next few weekends will be spent swapping engines and rewiring, the new engine has a different loom layout......
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Oct 29, 2016 21:24:48 GMT
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if the replacement engine is the same M52 type just swap your loom onto it no?
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Oct 29, 2016 21:55:31 GMT
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i wasnt suggesting that the rad was blocked, just mentioned that bmws seem to need big radiators.
do you have a pic of how it is plumbed in? or a scribbly diagram?
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, spitting litres out of the header tank, getting 120c hot, yet the bottom hose is cool, electric fan can bring the temp down, but not reduce the gurgling and spitting.