Blown it

classicracing · Jun 26th, 2006, 08:32

My 89 240GLT has just let me down at 280,000 miles. The head gasket has blown but I now realise it's been going slowly for some time, before it totally let go.
Symtoms were initially cold start with a slight misfire on one cyl, this was about a year ago, did a service, plugs etc, problem gone
- then had a rotor arm fault causing dampstart problem last autumn ( GLT has the rev limiter rotor, I changed for simple type because of price)
Problem gone
Misfire came back during winter, checked plugs and rotor all OK but misfire on start up still aparant, thought it might be an injector, ran a can of wynns injector cleaner through the tank, only half a tank of fuel instead of a full tank as recommended, but it means the clean up is stronger and more effective
Problem gone
Misfire back this spring and on start up I just wait for the misfire to stop ( 15-30 seconds after cold start)
Car not using oil or water by the way
Last time I fired up and went down the road looked in the mirror and low and behold clouds of steam (white) mixed with a little blue. Came back home and left it to go cold
Oil emulsified, water header low
The point of this speil?
Just to let you know not to ignore that odd misfire, changing components like plugs masked the problem for a while.
I've decided after 20 years of owning 240's to get rid off this one, and the chance of finding a decent GLT estate is fading nowadays
This ones done a lot of hard work and owes me nothing
Every thing still works, just put a pair of front tyres on it,
I did the heater motor in February (and posted my tips on the job)
I have a shed full of spares
I even have a spare unused special 95 octane use head gasket in stock
Anyone interested or should I fix it
Richard Clark
240 GLT
940 GLE HPT
SAAB 96 2 stroke

Alec Dawe · Jun 26th, 2006, 08:59

FWIW,
I think you should fix it!!

TheJoyOfSix · Jun 26th, 2006, 09:12

It does sound somewhat as if the HG had been failing for somewhile, most probably from the waterjacket to (probably) No4 bore causing the misfire until it burnt off the water that had entered No4. It now sounds as if it has gone completely.

The question to be answered is how much is the car worth to you and how mechanically minded are you? For the sake of spending £40 or so on her she could be back up and running (HG + head skim). On the other hand you could find that when you remove the head that the engine is not really worth repairing, but if all looks good apart from a blown HG it may be worth repairing.

dgbalfour · Jun 26th, 2006, 10:03

A similar thing happened to my '91 240 (B200F) - there was a misfire at startup for a while (a couple of months), then the gasket went completely. I ended up getting the head skimmed and a new gasket put on (professional job, ~£200 IIRC).

I considered selling the car too, but this one had been in the family for years and I knew it was always well looked after. Buying another car opens up a potentially huge can of worms, so I always prefer to repair the one I have rather than replace it and risk a whole new set of problems.

David

Jun 26th, 2006, 11:45

Hi I'd fix it. It's not a hard job it can take upto two days to fix (it takes me two and i'm in a wheelchair)

It's a heck of a lot cheaper than getting garage to do it for you I'd expect now anywhere upto £400 to replace a hg.

Charlotte

morsing · Jun 26th, 2006, 12:44

I'd fix it!

Clifford Pope · Jun 26th, 2006, 17:48

At least get the head off and look at it. If it is really only the gasket, plus maybe a light head skimming, then fix it. If It looks worse, then's the time to consider scrapping when you know the state of things.

Mike_Brace · Jun 26th, 2006, 20:26

My GLT estate had the same problem last week only worse as the cam had suffered a lack of lubrication. Have now replaced head and am back on road. The headgsket is an easy job. Ok I've done these a lot and now it takes about 75 mins to strip down and about 2 hours to reassemble. For the novice it should be possible in a day. It costs nothing to take the head off and see what the damage is.

Mike

morsing · Jun 27th, 2006, 08:48

BTW, were are you located? I'd be more than happy to give you a hand if you need it and are nearby.

classicracing · Jun 28th, 2006, 21:10

Hi All,
Sorry not to have responded before, thanks for all the support, I guesss will have a go
Am totally capable BTW, used to build racing engines etc a few years back still do all my own repairs
It's because I know what I might find that I haven't done it yet, been using my 940 GLE HPT and am getting 29 mpg.quite pleased actually, used to get 33 out of the GLT
Thanks guys
Richard
Taunton Somerset

Jun 26th, 2006, 08:32	#1
classicracing Senior Member Last Online: Jul 26th, 2010 09:55 Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Taunton, Somerset	Blown it My 89 240GLT has just let me down at 280,000 miles. The head gasket has blown but I now realise it's been going slowly for some time, before it totally let go. Symtoms were initially cold start with a slight misfire on one cyl, this was about a year ago, did a service, plugs etc, problem gone - then had a rotor arm fault causing dampstart problem last autumn ( GLT has the rev limiter rotor, I changed for simple type because of price) Problem gone Misfire came back during winter, checked plugs and rotor all OK but misfire on start up still aparant, thought it might be an injector, ran a can of wynns injector cleaner through the tank, only half a tank of fuel instead of a full tank as recommended, but it means the clean up is stronger and more effective Problem gone Misfire back this spring and on start up I just wait for the misfire to stop ( 15-30 seconds after cold start) Car not using oil or water by the way Last time I fired up and went down the road looked in the mirror and low and behold clouds of steam (white) mixed with a little blue. Came back home and left it to go cold Oil emulsified, water header low The point of this speil? Just to let you know not to ignore that odd misfire, changing components like plugs masked the problem for a while. I've decided after 20 years of owning 240's to get rid off this one, and the chance of finding a decent GLT estate is fading nowadays This ones done a lot of hard work and owes me nothing Every thing still works, just put a pair of front tyres on it, I did the heater motor in February (and posted my tips on the job) I have a shed full of spares I even have a spare unused special 95 octane use head gasket in stock Anyone interested or should I fix it Richard Clark 240 GLT 940 GLE HPT SAAB 96 2 stroke Last edited by classicracing; Jun 26th, 2006 at 08:36.

Jun 26th, 2006, 08:59	#2
Alec Dawe Former Support Team Last Online: Jan 26th, 2024 11:26 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Nr Norwich	FWIW, I think you should fix it!! __________________ Alec. (My other car is a WD 2-10-0)

Jun 26th, 2006, 09:12	#3
TheJoyOfSix N.F.I Last Online: Oct 28th, 2023 23:33 Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Belper View Photos By: TheJoyOfSix	It does sound somewhat as if the HG had been failing for somewhile, most probably from the waterjacket to (probably) No4 bore causing the misfire until it burnt off the water that had entered No4. It now sounds as if it has gone completely. The question to be answered is how much is the car worth to you and how mechanically minded are you? For the sake of spending £40 or so on her she could be back up and running (HG + head skim). On the other hand you could find that when you remove the head that the engine is not really worth repairing, but if all looks good apart from a blown HG it may be worth repairing. __________________

Jun 26th, 2006, 11:45	#5
charlotte001 Guest Location:	Blown it Hi I'd fix it. It's not a hard job it can take upto two days to fix (it takes me two and i'm in a wheelchair) It's a heck of a lot cheaper than getting garage to do it for you I'd expect now anywhere upto £400 to replace a hg. Charlotte

Jun 26th, 2006, 12:44	#6
morsing Premier Member Last Online: Apr 22nd, 2024 07:56 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Aylesbury View Photos By: morsing	I'd fix it! __________________ --- '89 Volvo 240GLT B230E/AW70 '14 Volvo V70 SE D4/M66 FWD '70 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu '95 Saab 9000 CSE 2.0 Turbo Auto

Jun 26th, 2006, 10:03	#4
dgbalfour VOC Member Last Online: Yesterday 13:59 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Bedford	A similar thing happened to my '91 240 (B200F) - there was a misfire at startup for a while (a couple of months), then the gasket went completely. I ended up getting the head skimmed and a new gasket put on (professional job, ~£200 IIRC). I considered selling the car too, but this one had been in the family for years and I knew it was always well looked after. Buying another car opens up a potentially huge can of worms, so I always prefer to repair the one I have rather than replace it and risk a whole new set of problems. David

Jun 26th, 2006, 17:48	#7
Clifford Pope Not an expert but ... Last Online: Apr 26th, 2024 12:45 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Boncath	At least get the head off and look at it. If it is really only the gasket, plus maybe a light head skimming, then fix it. If It looks worse, then's the time to consider scrapping when you know the state of things.

Jun 26th, 2006, 20:26	#8
Mike_Brace Former contributor Last Online: Jul 2nd, 2022 07:54 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Rhosgoch, Anglesey	My GLT estate had the same problem last week only worse as the cam had suffered a lack of lubrication. Have now replaced head and am back on road. The headgsket is an easy job. Ok I've done these a lot and now it takes about 75 mins to strip down and about 2 hours to reassemble. For the novice it should be possible in a day. It costs nothing to take the head off and see what the damage is. Mike __________________ A Volvo is for life not just for Christmas!

Jun 27th, 2006, 08:48	#9
morsing Premier Member Last Online: Apr 22nd, 2024 07:56 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Aylesbury View Photos By: morsing	BTW, were are you located? I'd be more than happy to give you a hand if you need it and are nearby. __________________ --- '89 Volvo 240GLT B230E/AW70 '14 Volvo V70 SE D4/M66 FWD '70 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu '95 Saab 9000 CSE 2.0 Turbo Auto

Jun 28th, 2006, 21:10	#10
classicracing Senior Member Last Online: Jul 26th, 2010 09:55 Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Taunton, Somerset	Hi All, Sorry not to have responded before, thanks for all the support, I guesss will have a go Am totally capable BTW, used to build racing engines etc a few years back still do all my own repairs It's because I know what I might find that I haven't done it yet, been using my 940 GLE HPT and am getting 29 mpg.quite pleased actually, used to get 33 out of the GLT Thanks guys Richard Taunton Somerset

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