Author Topic: Signs of...  (Read 1665 times)

Offline Chantuz

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Signs of...
« on: 17 March 2006, 12:54 »
Head Gasket Failure..

I have a dodgy feeling that my gasket has gone.. The signs that I'm aware of are like mayo in the oil cap, dirty brown coolant water, and petrol/water in the oil. Losing water and oil. Any others?

My water is quite dirty but hasn't been cleaned out for ages, on my to do list lol. Also I have to top up my water  every so often, however no mayo etc...

El x

Offline 16v Matt

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Re: Signs of...
« Reply #1 on: 17 March 2006, 13:09 »
Head gasket can also blow accross the cylinders, sounds bloody aweful, like a mis fire but worse as the cylinders swap gas between them.    This might not cause any of the syptoms you asked about. 


BTW, have you got some symptoms or is it just loss of coolant & dirty water that's bothering you?

Offline rubjonny

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Re: Signs of...
« Reply #2 on: 17 March 2006, 13:35 »
Overheating, white smoke out of the exhaust if its gone between a coolant channel & cylinder, blue smoke if its gone between an oil channel & cylinder, overpressurised coolant system.

Its better if you tell us what symptoms you have ;)
Coolant loss is most likly a fault in the coolant system, the plastic flanges on the front & RHS of the block are very comon sources of leaks.  Then the rad, and also the header tank cap.

Check for white crusty deposits, especially along the plastic end caps of the rad.  Its best to take the grill and the radiator fan shroud off so you can get a good look :)
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Offline Chantuz

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Re: Signs of...
« Reply #3 on: 17 March 2006, 13:45 »
Ok then, I've got:-

Loss of coolant
Dirty water
Blue smoke from exhaust

I only just did the head gasket a couple of months ago...and that was the second time i did it!!! :angry: Sometimes I feel like he's saying yep 16 years is enough for me!!!

El x

Offline rubjonny

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Re: Signs of...
« Reply #4 on: 17 March 2006, 13:48 »
when you day dirty water, what kind of dirty, is it just black, or is it oily?
Hello my name is John and I'm a dub addict.

Offline Chantuz

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Re: Signs of...
« Reply #5 on: 17 March 2006, 13:56 »
Tis just dirty brown water.

Offline rubjonny

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Re: Signs of...
« Reply #6 on: 17 March 2006, 13:58 »
Cool, if it was oily I'd suspect an oil cooler failure.

First thing to do, remove the thermostat housing, both plastic flanges on the block, the feed & return hoses to the matrix & radiator, and blast it all through overy which way with a hosepipe.  Then fit new flanges, and a new thermostat & seal.

Refill with a 50/50 mix of fresh G12 coolant and water, then keep an eye on it for a week :)
Hello my name is John and I'm a dub addict.

Offline Chantuz

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Re: Signs of...
« Reply #7 on: 17 March 2006, 14:00 »
Will do :)

Offline 16v Matt

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Re: Signs of...
« Reply #8 on: 17 March 2006, 14:41 »
I'm guessing your blue smoke has nowt to do with your coolant, now that could be bores/rings, stem seals, valve guides. What engine & how many miles has it done? :rolleyes:

Offline Chantuz

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Re: Signs of...
« Reply #9 on: 17 March 2006, 14:45 »
Tis a 1.6 8v driver engine...has done 84,000 :)