How do you know if your head gasket has been change by previous owner.

[BlakesXR6]

Well I own an ef xr6 , i bought it at 230,000kms , it has now done 253,000 . Just wanting to know is their any way you can tell if your head gasket has been already change by the previous owners. The car runs perfectly *touch wood* never had a problem with except the fuel pump , I treat it like a pig but I always make sure to service it. The ef xr6's are prone to head gasket failure , I'm surprised it hasn't blown yet lol also wondering how many kms did you guys have when your e series xr6's blow a head gasket.

[Cano90]

Not sure if you can check or not, but my ef xr6 blew a head gasket at 223,000kms but I was extremely rough on it... loved it to bits though.

[jphanna]

i have driven a few cars with blown head gaskets in my time.

after they have gone and been repaired (top end only)

lumpier idle (few pots with less compression)
less power (see above)
use more juice (see above)

im no machanic so i may get flamed...but i had enough experiecne with blown head gaskets to know they are common traits.

[FOCUSonTHIS]

I bought my EF XR6 with 135,000km on the clock. I thought I would do the right thing and flush my radiator out and I ended up flushing out the Chemiweld right out of the head. The head was cracked in the first cylinder and coolant was going into the spark plug.

So I had to replace the whole Tickford head with a reconditioned one. Also I a tapped into near the cylinder 6 to get more coolant though there as that is where it normally blows.

Just letting everyone knowing my experience with the EF head/head gasket

[J.C.]

Eeeerrrrrrr! I'm going to state the obvious answer here.

Ask him/her.

[atec77]

Originally Posted by BlakesXR6

Well I own an ef xr6 , i bought it at 230,000kms , it has now done 253,000 . Just wanting to know is their any way you can tell if your head gasket has been already change by the previous owners. The car runs perfectly *touch wood* never had a problem with except the fuel pump , I treat it like a pig but I always make sure to service it. The ef xr6's are prone to head gasket failure , I'm surprised it hasn't blown yet lol also wondering how many kms did you guys have when your e series xr6's blow a head gasket.

I really have to question this rumour , having owned a number of fords over the last 40 years and certainly quite a few lqter model I never had a head gsk problem , never, of course that would be a result of maintenance on the cooling system being done . Head gaskets can and usually do last for the life of a motor to rebuild unless neglected which has its own rewards

[mik]

if it`s been done properly you would`nt be able to tell i suspect.

[jphanna]

Originally Posted by atec77

I really have to question this rumour , having owned a number of fords over the last 40 years and certainly quite a few lqter model I never had a head gsk problem , never, of course that would be a result of maintenance on the cooling system being done . Head gaskets can and usually do last for the life of a motor to rebuild unless neglected which has its own rewards

tell that to an EA owner. my dad never loved a car more than his EA. he bought it from new, wouldnt let any body else drive it, unlike the other cars.

whne the head went on that in less than 2 years, the repair guy told him that,

'i get one of these falcons every week'

enough said.

[ea90gl]

Look for obvious visual signs on the motor like new or newish looking gaskets, blue or black silicone gasket maker particularly around the front black gasket between the head and timing chain cover, bolts with with marked heads ect might give you an idea

[Iggypoppin']

Wasn't the reason the early E series head gaskets blew because the gasket was paper? This changed with metal head gaskets on the AU? Not sure but I think I read that on here somewhere.

[Werd.]

My car blew out a rad hose and did a head gasket.. before I bought it.

219k on the clock and you wouldn't know a thing. I dont think there's any way to tell other than service history or physical evidence.

[graham7773]

In the last 15 years, I have owned 15 E series 6 cylinder Falcons. As I have been on a disability and age pension, I have only ever been able to buy cheapies. And you can tell. Every one of them had or developed blown head gaskets. Some people simply do not learn that you MUST USE corrosion inhibitor in Ford and all other internal combustion engines. The E series do seem to get more than their share of blown head gaskets though. Re has it been changed, as suggested above, ask.

[KIWI-1]

Originally Posted by mik

if it`s been done properly you would`nt be able to tell i suspect.

True... but if it hasn't I'll bet there will be red Loctite sealant oozing out.

[mex351]

Who cares??? If it's going good it's going good so no need to worry bro.I have owned our EF for like 17 years??? and I don't agree with the lumpier idle or less comp cos I got the head machined (more comp) and fitted a new rad,water pump and head gasket all at the same time and it was way better.Till age/km's caught up with the bottom end.

Then I did the smart thing and fitted a AU engine and it has been awesome ever since,but not for long thanks to our new FG XR6.

[tapeworm]

I put a triple layer metal gasket in my EF & it has tabs which stick out the side of the head. Perhaps if it has had metal one put in & you can see this. Also check for new sealant around the front of the timing cover and where the head meet. Best to ask previous owner though. It's tough to tell.

[Gavin Thomas]

Remove head & check to find out for sure....