Possible Head Gasket - Loss of Coolant

[clio_bus]

I been losing a far bit of coolant latly and i`ve just done a 100 mile round trip, when i got to my destinaion i had well under the Min level (topped up before i set off), Again i`ve just got back now and hardly any coolant?

I cant see any leaks?
also when the car idles it sounds kinda lumpy put sits dead on 1k?

i suspect this could be the head gasket on way out?

any ideas guys?

also if it is HG how much i`m i looking at? i`m super skint and have a baby on the way...

cheers

[Lunner]

Check to see if there is any white deposits round hose joints, bends etc also on the top of the tank along the seam

Check under the oil filler cap for any mayo like substance

Check the remaining coolant to see if it has an oily film on it

Check to see if you chuck out white smoke when fully warmed up

Final check is do a pressure check on each cylinder

[clio_bus]

cheers lunner,

checked under the oil cap and there is a very small amount of mayo, i did notice when i got home the zorst was a bit smokey :(

also the pressure gauge when idle is about 1 and only goes to about 3 max..


this is not looking good!

how big of job is this on the clio 16v? also any ideas how much?

[Lunner]

If i was doing it I'd whip the engine out, and swap it, may as well do cambelt and tensions while you're at it plus water pump depending on mileage.

Looking at buying head gasket - £?
Cambelt kit - GSF - £60
Water pump - £20?
Headbolts - £30?
Head skimmed - £30?

Labour wise someone who isn't used to working on clios prolly 2 days, recon i could prolly just about manage it in a day, plus getting the head skimmed

[clio_bus]

i just rang a local garage up, Hes said 600 inc cam belt ect ect. :shock:

cars on 94k and had cambelt changed at 90km (by prevous owner)

i`m gutted there is no way i can afford 600 or anything close to that, the car is a total minter and really really dont wanna sell up or sell for parts.. :cry:

here is a pic :lol:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v681/clio_bus/clio16v017.jpg

[Lunner]

Where abouts in the country are you?

Wouldn't bother with cambelt if it was only done a few k ago

[clio_bus]

north west nr chester

[Lunner]

If you're in the north west you're laughing lol, loads of WC boys up there, sure someone will sort it for you for a few pennies, if you were closer i'd do it

[Paul16v]

looks a minter,
£600 is mad, suppose thats going rate for a garage, my rebuilds not costin much more than that tho lol

[Daz.]

^^^ I want! :D

Thats the problem if your poo with cars it starts costing a whole heap of money!

[2 live]

wrong.


if your not prepared to get your hands dirty n give it a go .....it starts costin money.

[alex_e3]

I'd say i'd do it for you mate as i'm only down the road near wrexham. I'm just too busy at the moment though i'm afraid. Let it take its course and see if it gets worse before you change head gasket though. You never know, might be able to squeeze it into my tight schedule!

Think i bought some seats off you about 4 years back. Met in cheshire oaks KFC, remember?! You had your black one then!

[alex_e3]

& fair play - that valver looks absolutely mint! Great colour too - don't see many!

.........yes, i know you have one in that colour coops, but it ain't exactly standard!

[clio_bus]

cheers guys,

Haha yeah i remeber alex - wow that was a while ago...

i`m just gonna keep the car off the road for now :cry:

[Matty86]

just to jump in, I get similar symptoms


Loss of coolant - but oil is fine - coolant is fine too, no mayo


slight bit of white smoke when cold starting (assuming this is condensation in the exhaust) and blue smoke on overrun


and I can't see any leaks :(

[Lunner]

I used to loose a bit of coolant, seam at top of header tank was seeping vapor out at pressure, can see it cus you get a green/white crust around it, worth checking all over your pipes/joints etc to see if its weeping anywhere

[Matty86]

i can hear a slight 'bubbling/hissing' sound from the cap - its fooked?

[Lunner]

I'd say so

[Matty86]

Can you buy a new cap? or is it a new bottle time?


Bottle is only a few months old :(

[Lunner]

Can buy the caps seperate

[clio_bus]

:cry: :cry: :cry:

ok guys jus to 100% confirm its the Head Gasket! the mrs took car to shops this morning but turned round as it started pupimg white smoke out, i took oil cap off and the oil was well spitting out and like piss! also shit loads of mayo!

Booooooo!

so car is now officialy off the road!

[Lunner]

Yup, defo sounds like head gasket

[clio_bus]

just looking through the full service history of the car and there is a recipt on the 11th Nov 2005 in which the car had the Head skimmed blah blah... and was charged 325.

will this cause problems if i need a skim again??

or

is it best to maybe get a new head?

[Lunner]

Nah, skimming the head just makes sure you have a perfectly flat finish on it.

With ali heads this should be done every time the head's off

[Wobba]

I have always wondered how heads get skimmed. Do you go over it with a plane of some kind? Also, can you get tougher head gaskets?

[2 live]

depends how much was 'skimmed' last time tbh. the more u take off the the head, the higher the cr will be. take too much off and the valves will be making very good friends with the pistons.


it shouldnt have had too much taken off tbh, and no real need to skim after evry time the heads off, whack a steel rule across the head and give it a quick check, any irrregularities.....get it skimmed.

[clio_bus]

give you idea of how they can do it.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=cwn8Epoezog&mode=related&search=work%20cylinder%20head%20facing%20engine%20 skim%20skimmer

[clio_bus]

ITS ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!!

[clio_bus]

ITS ALIVE

[Duli]

Nice to hear that. :)