Head Failure?

nonmechwarrior

Hi Folks,

It's my first post here, so hi to everyone, but I have to kick off with a problem.....

I've got a 53 plate 2.2 (Z22YH) petrol Vectra C, which has been sat static for 3 months. The last time it was driven, it was behaving perfectly, apart from a slight, but persistent oil loss problem.
Last week when i tried to start it up, for some reason it refused to have any of it. Plenty of battery life and cranking going on, but no engine start.
When i went back out to it the following day, it fired up quite quickly, but ran rough as hell for a minute or so, and was making a clicking noise from the right hand side of the engine. At that point i switched it off and left it.

I took another look at it this weekend - it fired up immediately, and the clicking noise has gone (although there's still something that doesn't sound quite right). I left it for 15 minutes or so, but when i came back to it there was white, wet smoke coming out of the exhaust. Checking the oil filler cap, there was a thin layer of mayo starting to build up. So that presumably would imply the head gasket or head has failed.

But what i can't understand is what would cause the failure. I started it up again when the engine had cooled right down, once again it fired up with no problems, and the exhaust was reasonably smoke free (no more than I would expect from a cold engine). As the engine started warming up the smoke started again. It was switched off when the gauge was reading around 80°C.

Now, here's the thing; I don't know this engine at all. But i did notice that on the cold / warm (not hot) engine that there was no coolant being returned to the coolant tank. Is this normal for a cold Z22YH or is it a sign my water pump has given up? If so, what is the likely damage to the head? Just a gasket failure, or do i need to start swearing again and phone the bank for an overdraft?

Or maybe, just maybe, could this all be caused by condensation or a water build up somewhere in the exahust that is just blowing through? I'm nervous about running the engine to find out in case it causes any (further) damage.

It's worth saying that the coolant tank has "-15°C" written on it by hand. My coolant temp checker was showing the coolant should be good til -32°C though. Probably not relevant, but since this post has trurned into a waffling scrawl, i thought I might add it in!

Thanks to anyone who can help. I've posted this problem on the VXON forums, but haven't really had any responses.

NMW

Quick edit: didn't mean to post this in cam chains! Nevermind!

MikeS

coolant wont return to tank until the stat has opened - called expansion tank !

the stuff you have written sounds as if the car has done zero mileage for a good few minths

build of condensation in engine components and exhaust as engine warms up it is blowing it out

i would make sure you got decent amount of oil in there and that your timing chain is tensioned and timed up correctly

i would leave it to run for a while m8 - just make sure you got oil in the engine and water in the pipework and expansion tank

and keep an eye on it whilst you let the engine idle and reach operating temperature

suggest if you are worried get a video uploaded with the car idling with engine noise and exhaust smoke

nonmechwarrior

Thanks for posting, MikeS.

You're right - the car hasn't run for quite a while. I did wonder if it could just be a water build up that's evaporating away, but I didn't think that would exaplain the mayo build up on the filler cap. I didn't mention it in the original post, but there was also a slight mayo build on the dipstick as well. Oil level is fine....assuming it's not 50% water!

The reason I bought up the coolant return is that my Astra pumps water continuously from pre-thermostat back to the coolant tank. When the thermostat opens, there's a separate return that goes from the radiator to the coolant tank. The Vectra has the same two pipes - one from the engine, one from the radiator - but wasn't sure if the engine return pipe was pre or post thermostat. But thanks for clarifying!

I've not touched the timing chain (ever!). Is there any reason to think it may of slipped?

vocky

it does sound like condensation dunno..

ATOM_X

I Concur with Mike S & Vocky

I would suggest take it out for a good run with confidence and enjoy

nonmechwarrior

Thanks for the comments. Think I'll give it an oil & filter change (it's due anyway) and leave it to idle for a while. The car isn't insured at the moment so can't drive it.
I'm trying to prep it for sale so just need to make sure everything is ok.

Will let you know how it works out 🙂

NMW

MikeS

dont give it a change until you have run it for a while

no point putting fresh oil in if you have crap flying around inside the engine