Tohatsu 50 EPLTO

[David Hampson]

Hi
Just started my second season on Lake windermere here in the UK. Third trip out and the Tohatsu starts running really bad. Not being a mechanical person I changed the Spark Plugs, but no improvement. On checking the middle cylinder of the 3, I found it with lots of water contamination. Speaking to some "friends" they suggest the head casket has broken.
Can any of you give me any advice as to "how to fix it" or "how much will it cost" and lastly is very difficult job for a novice to attempt?
Thanks for for your help

David

[kmclemore]

Changing out a head gasket, using the shop manual, is not that difficult for a novice. It will be important to have the proper tools, though, and among them should definitely be a decent torque wrench. Being orderly is very important - labelling & bagging things as you take them off, making drawings or photos to ensure you get things back on properly, etc. Also important is being *clean* - make sure all surfaces are absolutely spotless as you assemble things.

However, the more important thing is to diagnose *why* the cylinder took on water. If you decide to do the job, make sure you find the actual source of the leak before you reassemble things... was it a warped head, a crack in head or block, etc... and why did that happen in the first place - stuck thermostat, blocked cooling passages, etc.? If you can't diagnose *why* it happened, the sure as the sun rises it will happen again.

[Catigale]

David - a compression test will verify that speculation about the head gasket...I would buy the tester myself and follow directions (post here if you have problems)

Any mechanic will be happy to compression test your motor and then give you an estimate...apologies to the honest mechanics out there - both of you....