Hi Guys,

It's been a while...

I rebuilt the pinto bottom end after having the crank reground (rattle on #4 cylinder), so took the opportunity to do as much as I could.

I purchased a high pressure oil pump and fitted it as it seemed to be the recommendation from numerous forum topics to make sure that oil circulated better around the engine.

When everything was back and fully assembled I was pleased that the engine sounded sweet and the rattle from the worn crank had disappeared, but noticed oil leaking from the head gasket at the front of the engine.

I then checked the rad and the tell tale signs of a blown head gasket - creamy sludge in the water

All head bolts were torqued down to the manual spec, so my question - is a high pressure oil pump the cause here.

Should I have been fitting a different gasket?

I now need to strip it back again with a new gasket, so just want to make sure I don't end up in the same position again.

Thanks

Rob

High pressure pump is not the problem
Check it's not oil leaking from rocker cover and if not then you need to check how flat the block and head faces are

Definitely from the gasket and plenty of oil in the water to suggest a head gasket failure.

I've got to take it off anyway to replace the gasket so will check that.

I'm hoping it will be obvious when the head comes off.

Rob

not sure what this proves

gasket

Oil in the water, but oil is clean.

No obvious signs on the gasket that the 2 have crossed over.

Seems to imply a failure in the engine elsewhere - Do you agree?

Do you have an oil to water oil cooler?

quote:

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Originally posted by daviep
Do you have an oil to water oil cooler?

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If you have not moved the gasket it looks badly out of aline

Yes, it moved when I removed the head.

The bolts would have kept it in line when fitted.

What I did notice is that the sludge is worse at the front, then at the back, indicating an issue around #1 and #2 cylinder.

Feeling like a cracked block around #1 and #2.

May end up getting a new block as I don't want to spend much more time and money putting it all back together only to find the issue re-occurs.

Is there anyway of diagnosing a cracked block?