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Author Topic: Head gasket or oil cooler?  (Read 1478 times)

Offline peaky83

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Head gasket or oil cooler?
« 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:
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Offline Conker

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Re: Head gasket or oil cooler?
« Reply #1 on: 05 December 2007, 19:04 »
Try a coolant flush first - it might just be crud/rust in the system.
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Offline peaky83

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Re: Head gasket or oil cooler?
« Reply #2 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:
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Offline dubslug

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Re: Head gasket or oil cooler?
« Reply #3 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??
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1992 pearl grey 8v

Offline peaky83

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Re: Head gasket or oil cooler?
« Reply #4 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:
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Offline bobbymk11

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Re: Head gasket or oil cooler?
« Reply #5 on: 08 December 2007, 15:30 »
had same problem losing water....turns out just new expansion tank cap...now no water leaks :cool:
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Offline rubjonny

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Re: Head gasket or oil cooler?
« Reply #6 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!
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Hello my name is John and I'm a dub addict.

Offline peaky83

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Re: Head gasket or oil cooler?
« Reply #7 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
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Offline wopdat

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Re: Head gasket or oil cooler?
« Reply #8 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!!!
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