Knysna: Trip home from hell

[stratus5]

Had two great races (50km MTB) and 100km road). Decided to come back slowly on Monday to beat the rush etc.

 

Car (Isuzu Double cab with 370 000km) had been overheating intermittently and I was unable to find the cause on some previous trips. This time I got to Knysna without any hassles, but on the way home thinks went from bad to worse. I suspect it is the head gasket that has now gone, and as a result I could only manage about 20 km hops, or the first steep hill before the car boiled.

 

The radiator is now toast as it blew up like a balloon after I tried to increase the pressure it could take before boiling. I resorted to jacking the bonnet open and hoping the rain and cold air would keep it a bit cooler, which it did.

 

At one point near Riviersonderend I took the thermostat out in near darkness. I needed tools out of the back, so unclipped the bike rack and took off my wifes bike. I put the tools back, but with all the stress, rain etc I DID NOT PUT THE DAMN BIKE BACK! Anybody see an orange GT and bike rack lying at the side of the road? To make it worse I think I reversed over the bike as well??

 

Only discovered this 40 km later when the car packed in again. No way to turn around so bike gone. Aaargh!

 

Eventually I got a friend to meet me in Somereset West and he towed me the rest of the way in. On a short tow rope in rainy conditions I could not see much  in the spray behind the car, so it was very stressful. near the R300 turnoff on the N2 all hell broke lose. Suddenly there were flames in the road with cars locked up and skidding everwhere.

 

The locals had decided to protest about building there homes below the water table by trying to kill us (nothing in the news of course). A skidding truck just missed side swiping me and rather than stopping and being forced to face the toyi toying savages we drove through the burning barricade. Luckily no damage since  the tyres are semi off-road still with lots of rubber.

 

My wife was severly shocked, but put on a brave face and we eventually made it home after 11 hours on the road.

 

Thanks to the wonderful friends, who came to tow us and then fed us a hot supper and lots of alchohol thing look so much better today...except for the car and bike of course

 

Any suggestions for a good diesel mechanic/shop who can do a head gasket properly?

 

 

[wisecrack]

wow that's really more than some bad luck

 

Glad to hear you made it home okay.

 

[slowpoke]

oh nooo! i'm very glad that you guys got home safely int he end. bikes and vehicles can be replaced and repaired but not people so you made the right choice to drive on and keep going to safety.

[idrive]

Sell the story to Steven Spielberg .........

[mbaymike]

damn...sounds terrible glad to hear that you guys are OK though....just one suggestion....get the numbers from previous clients from the shop that is going to work on your car....get some references.  might help you make a wise decision on who to choose

[Sammajoor]

 

Had two great races (50km MTB) and 100km road). Decided to come back slowly on Monday to beat the rush etc.

 

Car (Isuzu Double cab with 370 000km) had been overheating intermittently and I was unable to find the cause on some previous trips. This time I got to Knysna without any hassles' date=' but on the way home thinks went from bad to worse. I suspect it is the head gasket that has now gone, and as a result I could only manage about 20 km hops, or the first steep hill before the car boiled.

 

The radiator is now toast as it blew up like a balloon after I tried to increase the pressure it could take before boiling. I resorted to jacking the bonnet open and hoping the rain and cold air would keep it a bit cooler, which it did.

 

At one point near Riviersonderend I took the thermostat out in near darkness. I needed tools out of the back, so unclipped the bike rack and took off my wifes bike. I put the tools back, but with all the stress, rain etc I DID NOT PUT THE DAMN BIKE BACK! Anybody see an orange GT and bike rack lying at the side of the road? To make it worse I think I reversed over the bike as well??

 

Only discovered this 40 km later when the car packed in again. No way to turn around so bike gone. Aaargh!

 

Eventually I got a friend to meet me in Somereset West and he towed me the rest of the way in. On a short tow rope in rainy conditions I could not see much  in the spray behind the car, so it was very stressful. near the R300 turnoff on the N2 all hell broke lose. Suddenly there were flames in the road with cars locked up and skidding everwhere.

 

The locals had decided to protest about building there homes below the water table by trying to kill us (nothing in the news of course). A skidding truck just missed side swiping me and rather than stopping and being forced to face the toyi toying savages we drove through the burning barricade. Luckily no damage since  the tyres are semi off-road still with lots of rubber.

 

My wife was severly shocked, but put on a brave face and we eventually made it home after 11 hours on the road.

 

Thanks to the wonderful friends, who came to tow us and then fed us a hot supper and lots of alchohol thing look so much better today...except for the car and bike of course

 

Any suggestions for a good diesel mechanic/shop who can do a head gasket properly?

 

 

[/quote']

 

Have the head checked for cracks or warping ,  after over heating aluminium tends to warp.  And when you add turbo charging to the mix the gasket tends to "leak"around the water ports blowing "out"the coolent .

 

With an engine that old and having overheated I would also consider going the whole nine yards and doing a complete overhaul( piston rings tend to lose their elasticity when the overheat and your compression goes past the rings and gives you sump compression which then blows your oil through the air filter through the breather.

 

Also remember that a turbo diesel engine works as a unit, so if you changed something it could influence or compromise the engine as a unit.

 

Also remember that if a diesel runs lean it runs hot, rich means you just waste fuel,  but if running lean you will have a problem with a motor running hot, and then what happened to you can become a reality.

 

I would really suggest doing a complete overhaul and do a radiotor rebuild too could be blocked due to someone using radiator weld or just the oil from the overheating being pushed into the water system

 

My R0.50 c worth

 

[4ph3X]

glad to hear u got home safely.

 

i dont know much about cars, but a similar thing happened to my cousin on a recent trip to the transkei. they ended up rebuilding the engine of their isuzu. if i recall correctly, R36k later.

 

good luck.

 

 

[veyron.]

 

Hey man. Sorry to hear about your trip. Iv had a similar experience.

Maybe these are your bikes!

https://www.bikehub.co.za/forum_posts.asp?TID=28835&KW=found

 

veyron.2008-07-08 14:24:42

[Hog_]

Wow man! That's terrible luck! What can I say, except: You should have left the car at home and used the bikes instead!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

[stratus5]

Took the car in to a workshop today. They will take the head off and see what damage there is.

 

Whilst its apart, will redo the piston rings etc if required. Radiator looks like the frog Shrek blew up, so that needs replacing as its burst. Will need to do water pump as well just to be safe.

 

I feel a little stressed

[slowgo]

Glad you got home eventually - at least you enjoyed the rides in knysna that is what you will remember for a long time - fix the " bakkie " and enjoy the rides !

[PeterM]

Went home on Sunday after my 100km rd race. Had a tough race - too much head wind and I am too heavy for a fast uphill race. I WILL BE BACK!!!

Had rain all the way home, massive storm, hail, fog the last 1 1/2 hours to CT. just drove slowly. Bikes were out of the rain, inside my Toyota Avanza.