Replaced the HG...

[adamS]

Today I finished off replacing the HG on my 325.

However, I've got a few problems.

When you start the car up it sounds like a tractor. Its like there is no oil getting to the head. So I turned the car over without the oil spray bar in and there was nothing coming from the holes.

When you turn the car over with no spark it doesnt make said death rattle.

Any ideas?

thanks

[Brianmoooore]

Are the rocker shafts in the correct way around and the locking plate fitted?

[adamS]

The head wasn't touched. There is a locking plate above cylinder one area. Is that correct?

thanks

[Brianmoooore]

There is a locking plate above cylinder one area. Is that correct?

Correct.
Oil comes up to the head alongside one of the head bolts on the right hand side of the engine, goes from here into the right hand rocker shaft, then to the cam bearings, and finally to the left hand rocker shaft (I think - too cold to go and check a head).
You haven't been using sealant on the head gasket and blocked the channel between oil gallery and bolt hole, have you?

[adamS]

No I didn't use any sealant. Maybe when I was cleaning the block it could have become blocked up. Hmm not good!

[Chris-W]

I'm trying to think whether you could have put the gasket on the wrong way and blocked the feed?

[adamS]

Well doesn't it only go on one way? Can't imagine I'd have done something that thick. I hope!

[Chris-W]

Sorry - didn't mean to insult you! Was just trying to think what might have happened.

[bobafett]

Don't take any offence but, did you put any oil back in after your oil and filter change as part of the job or not ?

It happens, my apprentice did it once......

If the gasket is on the wrong way round, then you will not be able to see any gasket potruding from between head and block close to the front of the block and exhaust manifold gasket.

Hope you figure ot out my friend !

[adamS]

Thanks for the help guys. Keep it coming!

The oil wasn't touched. Its the first thing I checked when this happened!

So are you saying its possible to put the HG on the wrong way and not be able to see any protruding. I really don't think I've done this but hey!

Do you think that during the process of cleaning the block face I could have blocked the oil ways up?

Is it possible to clean these through with compressed air while turning the engine over by hand?

thanks

[adamS]

Well i've took the had off again. Nothing plainly obvious like having the HG on backwards!

How can I check the oilways etc? I'm out of my depth!

[Brianmoooore]

Disconnect the - lead on the coil and crank the engine over. You'll see where the oil feed to the head is then.
Study the head, and work out how the oil makes its way around.

[adamS]

Hmm well its back together again. It rus really nicely but STILL no oil coming to the head.

I'm even wondering whether the oil pump has given up or something.

What else can i do?

thanks,
Adam

[Brianmoooore]

Disconnect the - lead on the coil and crank the engine over. You'll see where the oil feed to the head is then.
Study the head, and work out how the oil makes its way around.

Did you do this?

[adamS]

Yeah I did. The oil ways in the block appeared to be clear. As for the head the oilways are concealed( i think).

I was thinking that blasting some air down the spray bar holes might free it up.

Also how long would you expect oil to take to start circulating? I would have though almost immediately!

thanks

[Brianmoooore]

You can work out where the oil goes in the head by looking at the blocked off holes where the rocker shafts block them. There are holes in the rocker shaft which line up to where these drillings are extended the other side of the shafts. Oil comes into the exhaust rocker shaft by a drilling which goes to the head bolt where the oil comes up, then to the camshaft bearings by drillings from the shaft supports, and the out to the inlet rocker shaft by similar drillings.
The flow in all of this is dependant on the holes in the rocker shafts lining up with what they should, and the spare holes being blocked by the rocker shaft.
Don't expect to see oil squirting out of everywhere, even when it's working as designed. It's only a slow drip at best.

[adamS]

Many thanks again. I've got a much better understanding!