Richard Herefordshire Posted May 31, 2014 Share Posted May 31, 2014 I went to look at a Stag for sale today and amongst other faults I noticed when removing the oil filler cap on the rocker cover white creamy thick stuff. Does this mean the cylinder head has gone as the guy selling the car assures me it hasn't it's just because it has been standing for 5 years and its condensation. Is this possible and how can I be sure what it is? The engine made a ticking sound also from one side of the engine, not sure if this is related.Thanks for any advice in advance... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DougBGT6 Posted May 31, 2014 Share Posted May 31, 2014 Yup! That's water in the oil all right. I don't think condensation on it's own would make the oil go creamy ;D Head gaskets are relatively easy to change but who knows what horrors you'll find when you open it up. A much lower offer possibly if the rest of it looks OK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD Posted May 31, 2014 Share Posted May 31, 2014 Decide if it's condesation or leaky gaskets - take a ride in the car (you were going to do that anyway, right?) make sure it properly warms up, and have another look at the oil inside the rocker covers. Clear - possibly condensation. Then look at the dipstick oil, any sign of creamyness there - definite leaky gasket.John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeyb Posted May 31, 2014 Share Posted May 31, 2014 Head gaskets are bad news on Stags.I agree that sounds more than just condensation. IF the head comes off easily (usually they do not as studs seize inside heads) then you will be looking at new gaskets, head skims etc.If not been done before and the car has driven more than 30k miles then the timing chains are best replaced at the same time. Upon reassembly then the tappets will need setting up (could be your ticking noise) being overhead cam, this is not technically difficult but a lot harder than your overhead valve rocker adjustment. Budget £300 for chains inc labour, £300-£500 for head gasket replacement plus anything else that may show up.A full engine rebuild will be £3k-£4k if you are not doing the work yourself. If the car is very cheap and bodily ok, then it may be worth a punt. If you don't know what you are looking at then move on, plenty of Stags available for sale out therekind regardsMikey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeyb Posted May 31, 2014 Share Posted May 31, 2014 Head gaskets are bad news on Stags.I agree that sounds more than just condensation. My Stag spent 9 years off the road, some of it in damp storage - with never a sign of mayonnaise.IF the head comes off easily (usually they do not as studs seize inside heads) then you will be looking at new gaskets, head skims etc.If not been done before and the car has driven more than 30k miles then the timing chains are best replaced at the same time. Upon reassembly then the tappets will need setting up (could be your ticking noise) being overhead cam, this is not technically difficult but a lot harder than your overhead valve rocker adjustment. Budget £300 for chains inc labour, £300-£500 for head gasket replacement plus anything else that may show up.A full engine rebuild will be £3k-£4k if you are not doing the work yourself. If the car is very cheap and bodily ok, then it may be worth a punt. If you don't know what you are looking at then move on, plenty of Stags available for sale out therekind regardsMikey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Herefordshire Posted May 31, 2014 Author Share Posted May 31, 2014 Just to add a bit more information,I can not see milky over the chain or rockers it just appears to be on the cap.The dip stick shows no signs of water in the oil.No pressure in bottle or radiator.Am I just clutching at straws as I want the car or does that make any difference? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DougBGT6 Posted May 31, 2014 Share Posted May 31, 2014 Doesn't sound as bad as you initially made out, or is that because you're trying to talk yourself into it? ;D Do as John suggests, take it for a ride, check it and if you want it, buy it. I once bought an Austin 7 Ruby for £10, it had 3 wheel arches that weren't from other Austin 7s. As soon as he saw it my Dad told me to sell. I got £15 for it. There's always someone who REALLY wants it! ;D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nibby Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 Having owned four stags over the years (for my sins) three of them had to have the head gaskets replaced at one time or another due to exhaust gasses pressurizing the cooling system but never had coolant getting into the oil, I'm sure I read somewhere that it's very rare for coolant to enter into the oil due to layout of the stag's water and oil ways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJT Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 Take it for a thorough test drive - at least 10 miles - include leaving it ticking over for at least 10 minutes whilst stationary. Check the oil and water levels before and after. Keep an eye on the temp gauge. It shouldn't go beyond half way in these temperatures.As for the ticking sound. I bet it was from the LH head around #6 cylinder. This is quite common. My last Stag had this for 16 years (60,000 miles) without problem and only disappeared when I fitted a new (not recon) cylinder head.It could be a sticking cam bucket or a loose valve guide.As Nibby says, it is unusual for water to mix with the oil on a Stag engine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V Mad Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 9214 wrote:as the guy selling the car assures me it hasn't it's just because it has been standing for 5 years and its condensation. Is this possible and how can I be sure what it is? .I have a rule that when buying a car with a fault like that, ALWAYS assume it is going to need rectification work and factor that in with the price. Dont pay over the odds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djw113uk Posted June 5, 2014 Share Posted June 5, 2014 My stag had stood 5 years when I got it. He had left the cooling system dry, so the water pump had corroded. It showed mayo on the filler cap within 2 days, but was only the water pump seals. Mayo doesn't mean head gaskets... but it could be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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