Thread: Looking for a frank opinion (re: Engine problems / failure)

Hi Guys

Got a 'fresh' build started for the first time the other week.

It was built by Dale (Autech on here).

SR20VE block sleeved to 90mm with Mazworx 90mm H/G.
Tuner has started up the engine, and found coolant leaking out the front-crank seal (I put it in backwards by accident), so he dropped oil and after it's first couple of very short test runs has found it's already completely contaminated with coolant.

Dropped sleeve(s)?

Pull the head and check the gasket and deck for deformities. Who installed the sleeves? A bad sleeve job will cause continued head gasket failure. This sucks man I hope you get it squared away ASAP.

Builder installed the sleeves (or at least organised it). I'm pretty sure im fucked and up for a new block.

Would like to see Andreas Miko's opinion on this given Dale/Autech never had anything good to say about him through-out the build...

Try not to jump to conclusions, pull the head and make sure that is the issue before things are said.

Did he deck the block with the oil pump on? If not, your fucked...

Need to pull the head. it could be as simple as the oil pump was not decked with the head. You will be a able to see if a sleeve dropped once the head is off.

Judging by the initial rebuild photo's I might be in luck, the front cover looks like it was off when the block was resurfaced (refer to here for photos: The Story: My love for Pulsars + The SR20VE 2.2L Big Bore N/A Build - Page 2 ).

Tuner is going to pressure test the cooling system with the rocker cover off and see if he can see coolant leaking down the inside of the timing cover. Either way the engine has to be taken out and torn down, either to be to be resurfaced properly (if that is the issue) or to be rebuilt again.

If engine is still in car, pull the radiator cap off and do a leak down test. This will help to determine where the leak is located. You will see the air bubbles in the radiator neck as long as you top it off with coolant first.

i say pull it up.... if it leaks and it aint a hose.... pull it up, do a full inspection.

lost one of my build due to an incorrect conclusion... had we done a full inspection, less parts would have had to be tossed in the long run... not to mention time wasted.