Head Gasket Failure - Update 4

It is true when they say, if you need something done, get it done yourself. Leaving TCEAS, I suspected my plugs might have been tainted since I ran the car with a failed HGF for weeks. Told the guys to check it and change it if it was bad. I had a hunch and I was right. The picture above tells everything doesn't it ?

Maybe I'm a perfectionist but running around with fouled plugs after your engine gets a new lease of life is like putting dirt on your face right after you cleaned it. As a result, I bought my own plugs and changed it. This is the second time I've changed my own plugs and I'm definitely getting a hang of it.

To everyone out there, check your plugs after you get a head job. =P

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.