Diagnosing a head gasket or cooling system leak ISB/RWP

[faheemakbar18]

Salaam everyone

I recently bought a Cultus 07 Carby which is working fine as I made a trip on it too.

Fan is auto
Thermostat not installed

Last Sunday I got its radiator serviced which was the stock one came with the car. He opened the radiator tank and thoroughly cleaned with the acid and stuff.

I put a guard coolant to spot any leak planned changing to proper coolant in the coming weekend. But on Monday while going to office in morning, I noticed the heat guage at around 75% and steam from left side of bonnet. I stopped it right away. I thought fan didn't turn on so I called electrician and he checked the connection was working. So we poured water and the top hose started to leak where it connects with the rad. Evening tightening the clip fixed it a little

I topped the water and slowly went to the radiator guy. He said rad is weak so I got it changed.

I have doubt that head gasket might got slightly leaked. As next morning without rad cap I cracked the engine and it threw water with pressure. Also reserve bottle was slightly above full level. Today I opened the radiator cap and found few bubbles too.

Maybe I'm overthinking but I want to pour good coolant and install Thermostat so I want to make sure no head gasket or cooling system leak.

Any workshop which can do compression test for gasket and pressure test for the cooling system, and fix whatever is required, without jugaars

Thanks for suggestions in advance

[faheemakbar18]

Also I noticed this oil leakage today. It wasn't there before. In fact there was no leakage at all

The radiator has thrown water to reservoir bottle. I left it at full level yesterday morning before starting the engine. 60km total drive

[hash4u]

Lodhi autos
educated guy who works by the book method

https://www.facebook.com/LodhiAutosRwp

[pwuser150520264261]

if radiator is throwing water in reservoir bottle and water level in radiator is decreasing as a result, then most probably radiator cap is faulty...same happened with my baleno when I bought it

[faheemakbar18]

Thanks for sharing brother. I'll try to visit him.

Have you been to Suzuki dealership on GT road. If so, how was you experience with them

[faheemakbar18]

I did change the cap but its aftermarket one some SNA company. I have my doubts on this cap. Couldn't find original though.

[pwuser150520264261]

sna industries company cap is good, I used it in my cultus for more than 3years I guess, but check if it is 0.9 bar or 1.1 maybe ur using 0.9....for cultus it should be 1.1 I'm not sure it's been a long time now

[faheemakbar18]

Yes the cap is 0.9. I think its 0.9 for cultus carby

[pwuser162546563639]

Thanks
But how they charge economical or expensive

[faheemakbar18]

I might be visiting them tomorrow InshaAllah

I will update on this thread.

[faheemakbar18]

So today I went to Lodhi Autos. Its near old Airport road Rawalpindi.

He tested and today the bubbles start to appear in radiator

For Head Gasket, he has asked Rs. 5000/- including headgasket. Machinist charges around 3500-4000

When opened, we found following issues as well:
1. Waterbody and pipe rusted. To be changed
2. Timing belt and ac belts have cuts, to be changed
3. Timing bearing (i think that's what its called) to be changed
4. Front foundation to be changed
5. Cross member is rusted, to be changed with new one.
6. Timing cover seal to be changed as well

Also coolant galleries were clogged so he will clean them as well

[faheemakbar18]

Also I asked him to add thermostat valve. He checked the radiator which I have bought brand new last week. Double naali.

He said it doesn't have auto switch which is essential for Thermostat valve opening closing mechanism. Can someone shed light on this.

Should I change the radiator if its something essential

@Xulfiqar bhai any insights please

[Proverbial_Slang]

Some cars have the coolant temp switch on the radiator. Not sure about Cultus.

[faheemakbar18]

I confirmed, cultus doesn't have this. But mehran has it

[faheemakbar18]

Update. The work was completed on Monday.

He made the fan direct, he said to wait a while and see how it goes then you can make it auto and install Thermostat as well.

I'm still facing water reduction.

On my short journey of 15km at night and needle didn't even rise more than 10%,

The reservoir level went up, between full level and tank top.

Radiator upper tank was almost empty and I had to refill it.

I really feel at a loss at this moment, fixed all the coolant passage blockages, changed water pump and its pipe, new radiator as well, headgasket work but still the same.

Also, they don't have the cooling system pressure kit. What other place in twin city offer pressure testing for cooling system?

[hash4u]

check heater core if leaking as well
they are supposed to fix the issue btw

[helper_learner]

If they refuse, Visit @dani_kk.

[faheemakbar18]

No leakage from the heater core. I have found 2 hoses leaking and fixed them already in past 3 days, As per him, it was not leaking at all because Top hose was solid and car is keeping pressure, when I asked him to check with compression tester kit.

The work was done by mechanic name Arif, he couldn't get the timing correct. There's an aged guy there who I believe is owner, came and fixed it for him. Also he checked it with timing gun. We talked and I found he is an automobile engineer and have been professor in few universities. But Arif, as I have found, doesn't follow the book and has same mindset of "Pakistani gari hai, thermostat pe sahi ni chalti, direct fan pe chalao filhal".

Also, he was not accepting when I told him it was on auto fan. he said radiator doesn't have fan switch which is needed for auto fan. Cultus radiator doesn't have that. He also applied Grease on Headgasket which I don't think is normal practice. Other than above few point, his work was good and clean. I am going to visit them again and see how it goes.

[faheemakbar18]

I plan to visit them on weekend once current workshop have checked it, as they gave warranty for the work they have done. I have already contacted them.

[helper_learner]

Sure and do update here