head gasket

[top_driver]

i'v been meaning to change my head gasket for a while, but the question is, does an engine really need to be skimmed, or is it a money making thing, from what i know of head gaskets are that they are made to mold into the shape of the engine and the small curves, if it was an essential thing i would have it sent off being as i wouldn't have one of those machines, but otherwise i would just put it on myself

[scotman]

Is the block cast iron or aluminium alloy?

[top_driver]

it's a 98 so it should be aluminium

[RATTER15]

Yes it does need to be skimmed, is it really worth taking the chance bearing in mind the consequences. Skimming isn't expensive and usually done the same day in my experience.

I would say your chance of getting away with it is about 50-50

Good luck!

[RATTER15]

All the emery paper in the world wont straighten out a warped head, if this car has ever over heated it would be madness not to have it skimmed.

[cazzz1975]

I agree with ratter, not skimming could have you back to square one again

[SlackAlice]

Depends a lot on why the head gasket failed. If it was due to overheating then almost certainly distortion would have occurred in either the cylinder head or block.

I'd clean both head and block and then using a straight edge (I used to use a metre long steel rule) thoroughly check all levels/angles using a gauge. Anything more than 2 thou out of true would need a full 'skim'.

If you do need a skim to either block or head remember you might need to fit an oversize headgasket, whomever skims it for you should tell you this.

[TWR]

Hi, I've been following your posts, you are talking about a E36, What makes you think it's the gasket? have you checked the Rad/ Viscous Coupling, have you bled the system? the reason I am asking I sold my old 1992 E36 to a friend, he eventually got the head skimmed but the fault was down to air in the system causing the over heating, if it is the coupling ( & they can be a sod to change) he has a new one he is selling. regards what has been said, It would be false economy NOT to get the head skimmed, the time /trouble/ to save you time bye a head from a scrapper get it skimmed then its a case of, one off, one on.

[top_driver]

the water keeps disappearing from the radiator expansion tank, 1st start up when it cold it sounds like a tractor, smell of petrol in the radiator, it doesn't really overheat though

[TWR]

Check the Rad for leaks, the attached Expansion tank do have a tendency to leak on the underside where you cannot see it, have you checked your heater for leaks from the pipes? it sounds like the same trouble he was having with his car, some of the old E36 had a problem with the head bolts, there was one nearest the Bulk head that often came loose this was found on my old E36, If funds allow get the car coolant pressure tested, this will give you the exact cause of your problem, did you re-try to remove the rear wheel bearing?

[AlBags]

There are common problems with blocks on a couple of the E36 engines.
What Engine type is it .. ?

Some have Nicasil coating on bores which was a big problem years back for BMW.
Some crack heads (straight 6 at high mileages)
Some just do head gaskets (M40 series) 316/318, etc.

[top_driver]

it's an m44 engine, i'v had a couple of places say it is a head gasket as well as my own opinion

[top_driver]

forgot to say, when the water disappears, when i take cap off it overflows, there's a big pressure build up