Help! Headgasket/Head cracked?

[billabong]

Hi Guys,
Last night I was driving back to Leeds from Manchester when I discovered all the coolant was gone/gushing out the expansion tank as steam and the car conked out in Huddersfield.
I filled up the coolant and eventually got home.
I thought at first, that it the thermostat, which I changed tonight - however today the car wont start.
Does this sound like the head cracked when it overheated?
Thanks

[Simeon]

When you refilled the coolant did you wait for thr engine to cool down or did you pour cold water straight into it?

[billabong]

I walked from the weighbridge @ junction 24 (M62) to the BP (?) on the road into Hudds, bought water and walked back. After scratching my head for a bit. So probably waited about an hour...
When turning the car over it now starts spraying a mix of water and air (maybe exhaust?) out the square hole near the top of the coolant expansion tank...

[Jasikasisback]

so you left it to cool down overnight and now it is spewing water and smoke from a closed overflow tank

[tweed]

Sounds like gasket had gone bud.

prob cheaper to replace the engine

[Jasikasisback]

if the headgasket is gone then I guess it wont do any har .m to try some radseal/sealant. Worth a try.

[Third Rail]

Same happened to mine about 5 weeks ago. Lost about 2litres of coolant in 4 miles! Had the gasket done - cost me £600...I tried Steel Seal but it was a waste of time. It may work if it's not too badly gone, but i think i had a hole the size of Katie Price's gob!

Good luck mate.

[billabong]

Yikes. A bit gutted really!
Tried KSeal and no joy. If it take the top radiator hose off that goes to the flange on the front of the head, It just gives out white smoke, smells like exhaust.
Are the headgaskets difficult to do on a 1Y engine? (1.9 SD)
Anyone got a link to a guide?
Thanks

[Jasikasisback]

did you get some nice clang clang sounds at any point..? I have killed a Ford in the past by driving with absolutely no coolant. Lasted about 150 miles...(back when I was very free spirited)

I threw the car away.....lucky I was on the motorway and a nice policeman towed my car to the nearest service station and me with it..(ah the Indianapolis state police...years ahead of the rest as they actually SERVE as well as protect) didn't cost me a penny

But if you really want to save the car then I guess you have to take a look at the engine and see if it is not cracked...inspect it really closely. Running an engine with no coolant can damage more than the headgasket..warping, cracking or and piston ring damage may occur-very expensive to replace if you do not do it yourself. So you might need to fix more than the headgasket. Cheapest alternative is to buy a secondhand engine if yours is damaged..Maybe even pick one up for very cheap on this forum.

Wonder how many miles it will do without any coolant in it???)