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[tunnie]

(Pinched from MarkDTM)

Blue - Water
Red - High Pressure?
Brow - Oil Return

The fire rings always remain in-tact...

[Marks DTM Calib]

Irrelevant as this is a 3.2 so multi layer steel gaskets.

Compression check question......how did you maintain WOT during cranking?

[Ulap31]

Did the test on bank 1 first after I'd let the engine get to hot temperature
Then for bank 2 I let it run again to get temperature back up
Took the fuse out for the fuel pump & disconnected the plugs to the coil packs.
No blue smoke whatsoever on startup or when driving and it goes pretty good on a run.
Fuel consumption is pretty poor though

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

Does anyone know of a single example of head gasket failure on a 2.6 or 3.2 ? Ive never heard of one.
I suppose this could be the first. 

[Ulap31]

I think what I'll do is carefully strip this down and take photos and get everyone's input before I buy anything
These are pretty bullet proof gaskets but
 got a quote from Vauxhall for new gaskets for heads and camshaft cover gaskets , valve seals manifold gaskets and camshaft seals and wait for it the price is
£440 wtf ??
That's just extortionate
 

[05omegav6]

Pays to shop around...

http://m.ebay.com/itm/99-01-FITS-CADILLAC-CATERA-3-0-VICTOR-REINZ-HEAD-GASKET-SET-BOLTS-/262310322122?hash=item3d12e9dfca:g:VbcAAOSwuAVW0inU

[Webby the Bear]

I got Elring stuff for mine. Cost nowhere near that 

[Ulap31]

Won't be buying anything till its stripped down
Thanks to u all for the part references as I don't like using non original parts
How do I post pictures once I'm at that point
Ps I've done approx 15000 miles since I bought it and the oil has never needed topping up if this helps.
Not sure of previous history as bought it with no history, maybe it was already having problems and I was unlucky

[05omegav6]

First port of call before getting stuck in could be to check th ex cambelt timing... I suspect that you'll either find it out, or evidence of previous buggery

Crate engine from VX is around £1,800

[Mr.OmegaMan]

First port of call before getting stuck in could be to check th ex cambelt timing... I suspect that you'll either find it out, or evidence of previous buggery

Crate engine from VX is around £1,800

Can you still buy them from VX then?.. (new old stock presumably) ..Wonder if you could get the engine on Trade Club, Not a bad idea if you have a good shell but a duff engine if you wanted to keep if for awhile..

[Ulap31]

That price is good considering the gaskets cost nearly a quarter of that.
Will strip it down to the cams, what am I looking for if there's something a miss.
Would that cause the Mayo, water loss and white smoke

[Nick W]

I think what I'll do is carefully strip this down and take photos and get everyone's input before I buy anything
These are pretty bullet proof gaskets but
 got a quote from Vauxhall for new gaskets for heads and camshaft cover gaskets , valve seals manifold gaskets and camshaft seals and wait for it the price is
£440 wtf ??
That's just extortionate

Once again, going to Vauxhall for this sort of stuff is just mental. An Elring Head set, which includes all off that is about 80 quid. You will need head bolts as well, which is another £25.


From your symptoms, especially the white smoke and compression issues I agree you probably have a failed head gasket. Just because it is rare doesn't mean it's impossible.

[Kevin Wood]

Irrelevant as this is a 3.2 so multi layer steel gaskets.

Compression check question......how did you maintain WOT during cranking?

What he said ^.

You can't hold the throttle open on a DBW car without using a Tech 2, so the compression test might not have given you a true picture of what's going on.

Try it again following the same steps, but unbolt the throttle body from the front of the plenum first. (or use a tech 2 to enable compression testing mode).

[Ulap31]

There I have a problem, can't get tech 2 could someone recommend a reasonable one.
Why can't  turning the engine over produce compression as that side of things are mechanical & not electrical ??
Sorry for asking but I like to understand the working of all the different parts.

[Entwood]

There I have a problem, can't get tech 2 could someone recommend a reasonable one.
Why can't  turning the engine over produce compression as that side of things are mechanical & not electrical ??
Sorry for asking but I like to understand the working of all the different parts.

To get a true compression test the throttle plates MUST be fully open .. known as WOT ... Wide Open Throttle .

The 3.2 and 2.6 engines have drive by wire throttles so you cannot physically hold the throttle butterflies open as they are electronically controled, so you don't get a true reading.

As previously said .. tech 2 to "tell" the throttles to go fully open, or remove the throttle bodies to achieve the same result.

HTH