Head Gasket Failure - Update 3

Finally my X-trail is out of the shop. Total damage RM2287.80. I was reminded that Service Tax is now 6%. So our dear government took RM41.58 of my money because I had to repair my car. Where is the logic in that? Parts cost is RM1711.50 and total labour cost was RM693.

The final bill of material of repair is as below.

1. Gasket Kit (yes they did skim the head)
2. Magnatec Engine Oil
3. Thermostat (2 pcs)
4. Injector fuel hose (existing hose has harden)
5. Shim sproket (no clue where this is. need to look up the manual)
6. Oil seals for crankshaft
7. Oil filter
8. MAF sensor
9. Water control valve

Head Gasket Failure - Update 2

The truck is still in the TCEAS. Top overhaul to fix the head gasket failure (HGF) has not completed. Zam told me when they disassembled the engine, it was very obvious which cylinder was having issues in the QR20DE. Of the 4 cylinders, cylinder number 2 had a nice thick black soot on the piston head. The rest are nice and clean according to Zam.

The HGF replacement was almost complete on Friday but they could not give me the car as they found that all the mating marks did not match and it was off by 1 degree. Something to ponder upon here is that who screwed up? Did they mess up by accidentally turning the camshaft or the crankshaft after the timing chain was removed or did the previous group of people that performed a top overhaul on the car mess up? Hmm...

See below for a diagram of the timing chain and the location of the mating marks.

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Head Gasket Failure

Wonderful, the latest symptoms point towards a failed head gasket (HGF) in the truck.

Which symptom? The spare tank looks like it is boiling. The fact is that the spare tank is not boiling but its steam/air bubbles escaping from the radiator.

The truck is scheduled for a top overhaul at TCEAS next week. The head gasket replacement or top overhaul as they call it will take around 1 week and around RM2000 to fix this issue.

On top of my head now, it currently seems like there were a few indication that the head gasket failure was in the making many months back. See if you could string up a connection in my repairs. I need a bit more data after they disassemble the engine to confirm.

The truck is celebrating Chinese New Year celebration even before I do. Now I need to go resolve my transportation woes for next week.

Tesla Model S Vehicle Engineering

Tesla's Vice President of Vehicle Engineering, Peter Rawlinson, gives us a tour of the Model S electric sedan. Malaysia has not even reach maturity for hybrids yet. Full electrics will probably take another 10 to 20 years? Sigh...



Tesla Vehicle Engineering - Part 1 from Tesla Motors on Vimeo.



Tesla Vehicle Engineering - Part 2 from Tesla Motors on Vimeo.



Tesla Vehicle Engineering - Part 3 from Tesla Motors on Vimeo.

First Impression: Bosch Aerotwin

Replaced the aging DuraEdge wipers last week. They don't make them like they used to. These are just barely 2 years. Compared to the DuraEdge I used to use on the Kenari, those lasted me well over 5 years till I sold the car.


RM90 pair of Bosch Aerotwin took the old spot where the DuraEdge used to be. Got them at the usual place - Double Champion. Still find the looks quirky in my opinion.


The Aerotwins had its first chance at action today.The rain was light enough to give the new Aerotwins something to do. The very first thing observed was how quiet it was on the glass. I almost forgot I had the wipers on. 


The Bosch Aerotwins are very very quiet workers. Wonder how long will they keep with this performance before showing signs of needing replacement. 



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Update 12/12/12: The overdued update to this. I'm sticking back to silicon wipers. Currently using SWFs'. The Aerotwins started to cause hazing wiping oil residue all over my windscreen. Windshield cleaners don't help much. 
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