Follow this : '93 CSE 2.3 Turbo, 165k miles - Full SAAB service history to 120k miles and then independent every 6k with oil change ( Mobil 1 Synthetic ) Usual high mileage problems , intermittent heater blower, heater core leak etc and then the dreaded water pump failure resulting in dumping all water in about 5 secs with resultant high temp. 2 weeks later head gasket failure. Took it in to reputable garage, head skimmed and pressure tested, valves and seats reground, new timing chain and guides fitted as a precaution - lovely job , lovely price !!. When I picked the car up - mechanic bent over engine asking if whining noise was normal - no way!! - engine previously sweet as a nut - take it away and it should settle down he said. Drove 15 miles home with whining noise pretty bad. Parked up and heard heavy rattle from head. Garage took car back on truck - couldn't recreate the top end noise, stripped down the side and checked timing chain. Don't worry should settle down they said, 1 week later whining still there and screeches every time when stone cold, sudden serious rattle form head, no oil pressure light, no warning, took it back and they stripped it down again this time taking off the sump to look - oil strainer full of gunk causing intermittent oil starvation to bottom end - shell bearings badly scored - guess what the whining noise was - waiting now to see if crank is serviceable - garage want the price of a bottom end overhaul - it is coincidental according to them !

What's the story on so much gunk building up in the strainer when it has had such regular oil changes with top quality brand. What's the link between the top end overhaul and the resultant damage to the bottom. Where do I stand with the garage, vcan they be right to assert that the build up would have occurred anyway and has nothing to do with the head repair.

Thanks in advance for any help

Andy

Andy,
Can you discern what the 'gunk' is composed of? Might give a better clue as to whether the garage is responsible or not. Also, are you a member of the AA or RAC? They're usually pretty good at sorting out this sort of problem. Sounds like you need an independant engineers assessment of the situation.
Pete.

Sorry to hear of your problems.

Makes' me wonder why all car manufacturers don't fit oil pressure guages as standard.

When the head gasket failed, was the cooling system being pressurised, or was coolant getting into the oil to form an emulsion ?

If the latter,I`m wondering if the oil filter has become clogged with emulsion (gunk)allowing the bypass valve to open and contaminated oil to circulate. Perhaps the garage didn`t change oil and filter ?