FUNKY_FALCON

g'day,
im just interested as to why EA's, (and probably other E series falcons) blow head gaskets rather often compared to normal cars? i wanna get an EA but i hear fairly often that ill have to replace the head gasket every 50,000km or so and thats something i really dont wanna fork out lots of money for. Whats the cause of the head gaskets blowing and why do they blow more often then in most other cars? Also what can be done to stop them from blowing or slow down the process?

Thanks.

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EDXR8

The head gaskets only go at around 200,000km. This is mainly due to the aluminium head which tends to warp over time allowing the head gasket to blow out. It can also be due to corrosion in the head from either using bad coolant or not changing it enough. Shouldn't really worry about it, just keep good quality coolant in it, and if it does blow, get the head reconed and put an AU head gasket and AU head bolts in, and you will be fine for another 10 years.

Bertman EA-S

It's not so bad in later models. just the EA's have that nasty habit. I've had two EA's and both have done it. One of them did it twice.

EFFalcon

so after the head gasket goes, get an AU gasket kit and its fine for a long time?
well the... would an AU headgasket change the compression on an EF?

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1995 EF II Falcon GLi: Heritage Green, 4spd Auto, AUII 17" Rims, Custom BA Front Bar, Lowered, Gas Research LPG, Clear Indicators, JVC MP3 Headunit, Phoenix Gold 6.5" Splits, Coustic 481QE Amp, Clarion 12" sub, Leather Seats, Power Window Conversion, 3.45 LSD, Pacemaker Comp Extractors, 2.5" Exhaust, Mandrel Bent Intake, High Flow Filter, Wade 1004 110 cam.

In Progress: BA XR Side Skirts, BA XR Rear bar, BA Shifter Handle.

TopGhia

The problem is caused by different metals expanding at different rates. In the I6 you have an alloy head bolted to an iron block.

Both expand and contract at different rates, setting up stresses in the alloy.

Most V8's have an iron head and an iron block and head gasket problems are virtually unknown.

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"I married Miss Right. I just didn't know her first name was Always."

EFFalcon

how is it so 'solved' on the AU's then?

__________________
1995 EF II Falcon GLi: Heritage Green, 4spd Auto, AUII 17" Rims, Custom BA Front Bar, Lowered, Gas Research LPG, Clear Indicators, JVC MP3 Headunit, Phoenix Gold 6.5" Splits, Coustic 481QE Amp, Clarion 12" sub, Leather Seats, Power Window Conversion, 3.45 LSD, Pacemaker Comp Extractors, 2.5" Exhaust, Mandrel Bent Intake, High Flow Filter, Wade 1004 110 cam.

In Progress: BA XR Side Skirts, BA XR Rear bar, BA Shifter Handle.

The Goodz

If anyone is interested on how to change a headgasket, I shall have a tutorial for you all very soon :)

Alex

EFFalcon

hmm.... a tutorial... i'm not 'overly' mechanically minded. i'd need help! :D

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1995 EF II Falcon GLi: Heritage Green, 4spd Auto, AUII 17" Rims, Custom BA Front Bar, Lowered, Gas Research LPG, Clear Indicators, JVC MP3 Headunit, Phoenix Gold 6.5" Splits, Coustic 481QE Amp, Clarion 12" sub, Leather Seats, Power Window Conversion, 3.45 LSD, Pacemaker Comp Extractors, 2.5" Exhaust, Mandrel Bent Intake, High Flow Filter, Wade 1004 110 cam.

In Progress: BA XR Side Skirts, BA XR Rear bar, BA Shifter Handle.

Ghia5L

Don't take this as gospel, but maybe the shape (subltle changes to dimensions I mean) and actual alloy of the AU head are different to the less tolerant EA head.

And of course, the gasket material.

-Dave-

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www.boostedfalcon.net

Kieron

These engines are suspectible to overheating so its imperitive to keep the cooling system in A1 condition. Let em overheat to many times and your head gasket blows.
The dreaded 'dancing temp gauge' is a problem too, usually caused by an incorrect thermostat, these donks need a dual acting thermo with a small hole that allows water to seap past when the thermo is closed. What happens during warmup with incorrect thermo is -

cold engine, thermo closed, coolant warms up, thermo opens, cool coolant comes thru and thermo closes, engine temp momentarily gies thru the roof, thermo opens again - this cycle continues a few times until stable - this isn't good for the head as it is constantly being heated/cooled.

A common reason for multiple head gasket failures on the one engine is skimping on the job, this donk uses Torque To Yield head bolts that are designed to stretch, in practise they are good for use once and throw away so if you get a head job enusre new head bolts are used.