|
Headgasket failure is something of an inevitability for owners of the turbocharged B230FT motor. The head is an alloy, while the block is cast iron, and the two surfaces respond differently to heat cycles. This is not an issue for a normally aspirated B230F so long as the cooling system is maintained in good order, but the turbocharger generates substantial heat under the hoods of our T-Bricks and, with time, thousands of heating and cooling cycles take their toll.
One suggestion is that you thoroughly (and perhaps repeatedly) flush the cooling system. If this is an automatic, it would be prudent to flush the transmission as well.
Open up the turbo plumbing and drain the "chocolate shake" oil. Bearing surfaces and coolant do not take well to one another. This presents a great opportunity to check the turbo hoses for tears etc.
If I were you, I would rebuild the "front end" of the engine while I have access: waterpump, thermostat and hoses; timing belt and tensioner; seals and breather box; fan clutch and harmonic balancer; and, new drive belts and accessory bushings.
If you are really adventurous and interested in keeping this car for the long haul, you might consider replacing the oil pump and rod bearings for only a few hundred $ more. Low oil pressure due to a dying pump or spun bearing is this engine's swan song. You might find that the bearings are scored anyway from the coolant.
|