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General => The garage => Topic started by: peaky83 on 05 December 2007, 17:24

Title: Head gasket or oil cooler?
Post by: peaky83 on 05 December 2007, 17:24

Please help, i am loosing water and dunno whats going on, i'm beginning to develop a mild mayo type liquid, and thought ah head unit but someone mentioned the oil coolers can go on the mk2 8v's is this true? how do i tell and how big of a job is it to do the oil cooler or Head gasket?

PLEASE HELP  :cry:

Title: Re: Head gasket or oil cooler?
Post by: Conker on 05 December 2007, 19:04

Try a coolant flush first - it might just be crud/rust in the system.

Title: Re: Head gasket or oil cooler?
Post by: peaky83 on 05 December 2007, 20:14

Sorry i wasnt very clear the mayo type liquid is there but then disappears im so confused, its on the dipstick too not the resevoir  :cry:

Title: Re: Head gasket or oil cooler?
Post by: dubslug on 05 December 2007, 21:28

if its there and goes it could be condensation which burns off as u drive....
u doing short journeys at the min??

Title: Re: Head gasket or oil cooler?
Post by: peaky83 on 06 December 2007, 16:49

Yea theres mayo under the filler cap and round the breather and rocker cover a bit this is why i was concerned and im losing water... but i dunno there, ive changed the flange on the front of the block, the 2 thick hoses, the radiator and the expansion tank/onion thingy i'm now bloody lost and stuck  :huh: :angry:

Title: Re: Head gasket or oil cooler?
Post by: bobbymk11 on 08 December 2007, 15:30

had same problem losing water....turns out just new expansion tank cap...now no water leaks :cool:

Title: Re: Head gasket or oil cooler?
Post by: rubjonny on 10 December 2007, 16:13

if the water cooler was leaking normally your coolant would be full of oil, makes a right mess!  Change the coolant flange on the right side of the block as well, and check the radiator for white crusty deposits!

Title: Re: Head gasket or oil cooler?
Post by: peaky83 on 10 December 2007, 19:11

Definately head gasket, slight white smoke, lots of steam when cold and dark grey oil...

How difficult for a novice to do or how much for a garage to do it for me?

Dan

Title: Re: Head gasket or oil cooler?
Post by: wopdat on 11 December 2007, 11:55

If its is smoking i.e.white mist NOT blue then it is definately your head gasket.

It is not that difficult to do if your mechanically proficient but time consumin. Get yourself a haynes manual and follow the instructions... just make sure soak all nuts & bolts (especially the exhaust manifold nuts) with WD40 for a couple of nights.

Head de-coke, skim & replacing valve seals etc is about £150 plus gaskets etc...

If it is a high mileage engine then it may also be worth considering changing the piston rings and bearing end caps!!!