M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS

DISCUSSION => Engine + Driveline => Topic started by: flyingbrickperformance on April 27, 2011, 08:29:02 PM

Title: Strange Head Damage
Post by: flyingbrickperformance on April 27, 2011, 08:29:02 PM

Never used the M42 in my cars and therefore haven't been able to figure out what might have happened here - anyone have any ideas?  Almost looks like it overheated, blew a head gasket, and the fluid leaking at this section of the head ate away at the aluminum a bit.  Any ideas?  I'll have to see if its something that can be fixed with a little welding and shaving.

(http://i1183.photobucket.com/albums/x463/dateague/Car%20Parts/010.jpg)

Title: Strange Head Damage
Post by: DesktopDave on April 27, 2011, 08:34:21 PM

If that's the bottom of the head (with the infamous profile gasket), I'm told coolant does that with cavitation.  But the two parts fit together tightly, so I've never really understood why.

Title: Strange Head Damage
Post by: flyingbrickperformance on April 27, 2011, 09:21:22 PM

Interesting - found additional info on this potentially being the result of electrolysis.  Guess now I need to see if I can get this fixed or if I need to buy a new head casting.

Title: Strange Head Damage
Post by: Cristian G in Oz on April 27, 2011, 09:33:02 PM

If you've got a good welder friend, you could grind it out, weld in and re-machine ti to the same height.....

I would just leave it alone.  the material thickness is adequate for another few hundred thousand miles and unless you need an as new finish it will survive.

Make sure you use the right coolant and all that kind of stuff that we all know.