I believe I have a problem that may, or may not start to rear it's ugly head. The car's threatening to blow the head gasket. It's not yet done it, but it's giving some of the warning signs.

I'm going to flush the cooling system again, and replace the thermostat, as it is not working properly. Anything else to prevent it going? If it goes, it's more the inconvenience factor, as I've got the spare in my folks garage, but I'd like to not go through the hassle, and this motor still feels strong. Compression's still 175-180 across all cyls. The warning signs are the coolant in the overflow boiling, leaving a small puddle under the car. It's not overheating at this stage, and the oil is not emulsified.

could be cracked head?

haha, and what signs are these? :O

Unlike my mate in his kingswood the other week: *burnout* *burnout* *burnout* *pop* "SH**!!" = Head gasket gone.


could be cracked head?

He didn't want to hear that!!!! :bowrofl:

add a bottle of chemiweld or similar
remove the thermostat for now
add a high Boiling point coolant
keep the water level just above the cooling fins in the radiator
make sure the radiator fans work
fit a new cap

Yeah i agree with magnabuff, get some chemiweld, use as per directed and fix the thermostat and cap. This should keep you going for a while longer.

She's got no thermostat, flushed the cooling system, it's only got water at the moment, as I've gotta flush it again. Hasn't done anything silly yet, after I can afford it, the radiator's going to be professionally cleaned, or replaced. Fan works, but it's not overheating on the dash. Never gets above half.

Told you to buy a second gen V6, much better motor/car.

Told you to buy a second gen V6, much better motor/car.

2.6 > 3.0

:P

2.6 > 3.0

:P
Size matters dude...

Size matters dude...

It's the way you use it. :P

It's the way you use it. :P

Thats what i tell the missus...HAHA

Anyway, just had it up on the hoist. It's got a new muffler and 4 good tyreslol. The core of the radiator's collapsed, which is the problem. The engine's been severely overheated in the past and there's a very small coolant trace from the rear of the block. Not the welsh plugs, but the rear of the block.:doubt:

New radiator'll go in sometime across the weekend.

The first gens suit my needs better than the seconds. I have a hipo Astron, in my parent's garage if need be, something I couldn't do to a second gen V6, which would net similar problems at my end of the price scale.

Thats what i tell the missus...HAHA

haha, yeah

We're talking about engine displacement and power to weight ratios, sort of :P

haha, yeah

We're talking about engine displacement and power to weight ratios, sort of :P

She likes big 8's, and i tell her that its the way u use the 6, der....:doubt: :bowrofl:

2.6 > 3.0

:P

In:
-Fuel usage
-Lack of power
-Lack of technology
-Poor reliability

In:
-Fuel usage
-Lack of power
-Lack of technology
-Poor reliability
Keep Torquing dude! The 4cyl may have less torque, but it's earlier in the rev range. Proper maintainance sees them equalling, or beating the 6cyl in reliability.

Keep Torquing dude! The 4cyl may have less torque, but it's earlier in the rev range. Proper maintainance sees them equalling, or beating the 6cyl in reliability.

Have to agree with you there, I don't think i've ever owned a car with such good a take-off from zero nor have I owned an engine quite as reliable. I did want to go to a V6 but after getting this I4 where I want it, I don't think i'll be "upgrading". That and it was made here in Lonsdale, SA. :)

Keep Torquing dude! The 4cyl may have less torque, but it's earlier in the rev range. Proper maintainance sees them equalling, or beating the 6cyl in reliability.

Yeah and keep the V6 maintained and you have a car in the end with more everything.
and magna91, you serious, you WANT to stay with an asstron?
whats this world coming to:P

']Yeah and keep the V6 maintained and you have a car in the end with more everything.
and magna91, you serious, you WANT to stay with an asstron?
whats this world coming to:P
First gens handle much better, when they're correctly set up (ie, not uberworn suspension)

First gens handle much better, when they're correctly set up (ie, not uberworn suspension)

etc etc etc.
never driven a 1st gen so i cant comment but engine wise if you'd choose a less powerful motor well i dont know something is wrong.
advantage being in the 4 is there is only one head to screw up not 2

Tuffy, if we both make it to the northern meet tomorrow, you're welcome to have a shot at mine. Just don't thrash it, trying to stop the leaks appearing until Friday

']and magna91, you serious, you WANT to stay with an asstron?
whats this world coming to:P

I'm serious alright... i'll go to a V6 eventually but it probably won't be for a while and almost certainly won't be in this car. If the Astron goes I may try and shove a SOHC V6 in there (common as hell engine), but at the moment, why fix what isn't broken? :P

Tuffy, if we both make it to the northern meet tomorrow, you're welcome to have a shot at mine. Just don't thrash it, trying to stop the leaks appearing until Friday
I wont be attending mate. But thanks for the offer. I will take you up on that another time. the XE i drive is a deathtrap, so i wont be driving it at nighttime, that, and it'd cost me $60 in fuel just getting there and back, damn carburettors

wow seems some astron members have some serious denial issues

Sure do. lol For the first gen owners you can understand it, for the second gens... not as much. I probably should go V6 but at this age and early stage of driving, I don't have any need for a 6 yet so i'll just have a crack at the 4 and see what I can do.

yeah course 1st gens are understandable, i got not a problem with people owning an astron, just think its mad that they reckon theyre better/faster than the 6

Well yeah... I do see your point there. :think: Just common knowledge that the more cylinders you have the more you have to work with so of course it'll put out more power than the equivalent age 4. Reliability wise the Astron does have a good rep provided it is serviced regularly (which I suppose is a general rule with any engine).

The thing is, with the Astron, as it's such an undersquare engine, it's lazy, but boy, does it have torque! Max torque's only at 2400RPM! Of course, it doesn't like to rev much past 5000...

Power is nice, but it's torque that decides how far you take the wall with you.

That too... i'll confess to taking it for a bit of a test yesterday to see how fast it could take off from zero, off the brake, down on the accelerator and in about a second I was back on the brakes again (to avoid hitting the wall -EDIT).

Maybe it doesn't do so much when you start getting around 120-140, I haven't tried, but when it comes down to driving your car around the city or suburbs where the top speed is 60 or so anyway, having that extra low down torque really gives it a lot of kick (in turn making it fairly fun to drive, keep within the limit but still get up to that speed fairly quick).

I wouldn't take it to the track and expect to win with the 1400kg sedan and automatic around it though.

That too... i'll confess to taking it for a bit of a test yesterday to see how fast it could take off from zero, off the brake, down on the accelerator and in about second I was back on the brakes again.

Maybe it doesn't do so much when you start getting around 120-140, I haven't tried, but when it comes down to driving your car around the city or suburbs where the top speed is 60 or so anyway, having that extra low down torque really gives it a lot of kick (in turn making it fairly fun to drive, keep within the limit but still get up to that speed fairly quick).

I wouldn't take it to the track and expect to win with the 1400kg sedan and automatic around it though.
As I've said in the past, a first gen is suprisingly quick to 60km/h. Light weight, and lots of torque down there'll do that.

sorry to say boys but 1st gens are severly under rated....

BCX7 killed my xi.... :redface: mad lante kills my xi.... dunno bout joshy tho :bowrofl:

I have owned both motors, both EFI and both with an auto gear box.

The astron is crap, it's timing chain is crap, it's sound is crap, it's power is crap, and I don't care what you say about servicing, **** engine.

The 6 is not a mile ahead mind you, but it's a LOT better than the 4.

I have owned both motors, both EFI and both with an auto gear box.

The astron is crap, it's timing chain is crap, it's sound is crap, it's power is crap, and I don't care what you say about servicing, **** engine.

The 6 is not a mile ahead mind you, but it's a LOT better than the 4.

HAHA! So you admit! I think the 12v version isnt that great, the 24v on the other hand is in a different league.

I don't think many people have seen mad lante`s car, sub 8 second 0-100 at least, quicker than v8s that I've riden in.

Timing chain is fine. Sound is fine. Power is fine. Reliability is fine. Am I just lucky? lol

Really though I couldn't care less about how much more power the 6 has over the 4. If I did, I wouldn't have bought a Second Gen 4-cyl Auto. That said the 4G63 is tempting, but otherwise the 4G54 is what i'm after.

Ah well... enjoy the V6 I suppose, i'll catch up when I feel like it. :P

Back on topic. I sourced the problem. You know how it had no thermostat? I found bits of the thermostat in the radiator. Explains the blocked core, and the weirdness of the cooling system. For the next coupla weeks, it's got no thermostat entirely, until we're sure that the block, head and gasket are fine. Also a good exercise in why you need a corrosion inhibitor in the cooling system.

Also, proof that these can survive a severe overheat!

Back on topic. I sourced the problem. You know how it had no thermostat? I found bits of the thermostat in the radiator. Explains the blocked core, and the weirdness of the cooling system. For the next coupla weeks, it's got no thermostat entirely, until we're sure that the block, head and gasket are fine. Also a good exercise in why you need a corrosion inhibitor in the cooling system.

Also, proof that these can survive a severe overheat!

Don't forget you could always do a vacuum test to see if there's anything wrong with it.

Don't forget you could always do a vacuum test to see if there's anything wrong with it.
That be the plan, and to flush it out after a week. The thermostat'll be replaced then too.

When my TP had the cracked head the radiator and overflow bottle both smelled of fuel/exhaust gases.

As I've said in the past, a first gen is suprisingly quick to 60km/h. Light weight, and lots of torque down there'll do that.

Man, that is so true.
I also drive a 2007 suzuki swift, and it just doesnt keep up with 1st gen.
every time, under the traffic lights, I can beat pretty much all the cars.
I had a HM fully reco engine installed 3 yrs ago and done 56000km, and it still run sweet as now. but the gearbox is a bit off the pace.

yea, love the low end torque. (don't find that a lot in car nowadays)

but sadly, i am trading my lovely magna with a MX83 cressida.

That be the plan, and to flush it out after a week. The thermostat'll be replaced then too.


When my TP had the cracked head the radiator and overflow bottle both smelled of fuel/exhaust gases.

You'll also notice the coolant in the radiator will have bubbles, and will be milky/oily.


Man, that is so true.
I also drive a 2007 suzuki swift, and it just doesnt keep up with 1st gen.
every time, under the traffic lights, I can beat pretty much all the cars.
I had a HM fully reco engine installed 3 yrs ago and done 56000km, and it still run sweet as now. but the gearbox is a bit off the pace.

yea, love the low end torque. (don't find that a lot in car nowadays)

but sadly, i am trading my lovely magna with a MX83 cressida.

Heh, I had a mate step out of his VS SS and into my car and He was surprised how much bottom end torque it had, and how the A/C actually worked. :P

You'll also notice the coolant in the radiator will have bubbles, and will be milky/oily.

We might have got it in time, to prevent any damage. There's no bubbles, no chocolate milkshake, just severe overheating and overpressure. Only way to tell is to run it, and source the new oil pump for the spare motor as a just in case.

With my cracked head I drove it for about 1 year to work and back. Refill the radiator before heading to work-refill the radiator after work to drive home. Coolant was a distant memory I just carried 2L Coke bottles full of replacement water. The temp gauge never went past half, probably because there was so little water left for it to read. I was amazed the engine didnt blow during summer.

Took it for a durability test this evening. Failed in a big way!

The good news is, the crud is coming out of the cooling system. The bad news is, it's leaking like a sieve, on the radiator, and weeping from the timing cover.

I'm not going to Chem-i-weld. It'll block everything back up.

It's all cool now!

Second radiator to replace the first is ex-TM GLX, so it doesn't have the second temp connector. Fans work still, she's not leaking a drop, and pressure and temperature are excellent! I'll chuck some corrosion inhibitor into the water when I'm not going to get burned.lol

Took the car back to the wrecker this morning, and the damn thing wouldn't leak. Even after a pressure test! He took my word for it though, and there was evidence of it leaking, especially after I took it out.

Man, you must have the worst luck with cars ever. :confused:

Good to hear it's still running, not so easy to kill an astron is it now? :P

I've always said than an Astron motor is suprisingly resilient. Out of the 8 motors I've had, three had significant problems. One broke a BS chain after 30,000km of no maintainance, another had a cracked block, and ate headgaskets, and the third had a spun bearing.