Engine trouble

[Danny-C]

After months of heating problems the engine has finally had enough it hasn't overheated just the water pipes are rock hard and about to explode so I have stopped driving her, the next question is head gasket or will it b likely to b a crack, I can't do the head or gasket myself but I would change the engine which would b the best option how much is a new engine going for these days.
I wouldn't mind doing the gasket but if I pay a garage to do it and turnes out the head is gone it would probably b cheaper and one guy I spoke to would want the engine out anyway.
Thanks guys

[BATTS91]

My guess would be possible blocked rad but wait for the experts ie Danthe

[Danny-C]

Chers buddy but I've done all the obvious on her its all new. Had a couple people look at it now and they keep coming up with the same answers.

[Speedtouch]

What are the exact symptoms - any loss of coolant, steam out of the exhaust, mayonnaise in the rocker box or on the dipstick?

[Danny-C]

No none of that all fine running temp good had new rad/water pump and thermostat but as soon as u start using the car the water pipes start to go hard and after 10 mins they don't move and the water bottle looks like its about to pop. People told me theres only 1 thing that would b putting that sort of pressure in to the water system hence the questions about the new engine or head.
Thanks guys

[BATTS91]

Me and a few others have noticed the hoses do tend to get abit hard but never had any problems just cracked on with tbh

[Speedtouch]

Perhaps you need to fit a larger pulley to the water pump so that it turns a bit slower?

[Taylor325i]

No none of that all fine running temp good had new rad/water pump and thermostat but as soon as u start using the car the water pipes start to go hard and after 10 mins they don't move and the water bottle looks like its about to pop. People told me theres only 1 thing that would b putting that sort of pressure in to the water system hence the questions about the new engine or head.
Thanks guys

Was the coolant system bled properly? Could be an air lock?

Taylor.

[Danny-C]

Perhaps you need to fit a larger pulley to the water pump so that it turns a bit slower?

Does this happen?
And I was hoping it was air in the system but I have tried for months to do it but it's getting worse not better, I have been denying its anything serious for bout 6 months now with everyone telling me it's bad, I don't do a lot of miles in her only 3.5k in 4 years.
Wen I say about the hoses going hard I would say that u would not b able to squeeze them any more than 1-2mm and u can phisically see the water tank bulging.

[penton08]

It could be as simple as the rad cap being faulty/wrong

[Danny-C]

Had a new one of those too

[Brianmoooore]

Don't understand this 'hard hoses' stuff. They're supposed to be hard; at 2.0 bar to be precise.
Any more than this and the pressure cap should open to maintain the pressure.

[leeparkes]

When its pressured up what comes out of the bleed screw?
I had a similar problem a few years ago and it didnt turn out to be good news.

Half way down page 4

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... c&start=75

[Danny-C]

Yes seems the same prob not quiet as bad tho but it always seems to have trapped air and even leaving the car 2 weeks the pressure is still in the system, I'll read on c how u got on guessing not good

[Danny-C]

When its pressured up what comes out of the bleed screw?
I had a similar problem a few years ago and it didnt turn out to be good news.

Half way down page 4

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... c&start=75

Did u ever manage to find out how the head was, reading yours seems very similar to mine no matter how much I bleed the system it's always to have more it's getting in from somewhere but never losing any coolant not good signs

[leeparkes]

I never got the head pressure tested (still have it) but it had let go on cyl 5 and 6, there were pics on there but it seems imageshack has deleted them.
The head bolts around those cylinders were not as tight as the others which in turn would suggest the threads had pulled.

On the other hand this may not be the case with your car, take it to a garage to test if you have exhaust gases in the coolant.