Re: bored surfing... water injection...

[Gross Scruggs <GScruggs@wposmtp.nps.navy.mil>]

Years ago when I owned a '79 Saab 900 Turbo the car suddenly begun to burn its
coolant.  My first clue was noticing a light cloudiness behind the car and then
at traffic lights being enveloped by a sweet-smelling mist.  As it got worse I
could leave a magnificant white con trail that was the envy of all... except
those who knew I was burning my coolant.  Anyway, when I pulled the head there
was absolutely no doubt about the location of the problem.  Piston #3 was
cleaner than new, the combustion chamber was spotless and the valves were
perfectly clean when compared to the 'normal' others.  I don't know for sure the
nature of the physical mechanism that causes the cleaning, but it definately
works!  

I know of no downside to cleaning by water ingestion but have wondered if all
those carbon particles were trapped in the catylic converter or were suspended
to an exit.  

Rest of Saab story... motorheads only:  Heat and thin castings allowed the
coolant to corrode throught the head undeneath the #3 intake valve at exactly
40kmi, and I did regularly change coolant.  No possible repair... replace head. 
Second head did same thing at same place at 80kmi... notice a pattern?  Replaced
head again, drove another 30kmi, sold car... timing is everything.  Learned that
generation of Saab engine is a variant of the TR-7 engine, famous for cylinder
head problems.  Had I known that I would have never bought the car.  Still have
both those bad heads should anyone want to look.

Regards, Gross Scruggs