is this a headgasket problem???

[Maka@shakenbakeracing]

Ok i broghtthe car with 102k or so on it
it had slight oil sludge in the header tank.
ive done 6k on the car since (6 months)

anyhow
there is a good amount of sludge in the header tank, but cleans out well enough.
but my water level had dropped over the past few months.
so i have filled that up.
Cars just been for a check up before i take it to the ring but they suspect a headgasket problem at osme point with the sludge in the ehader tank.

I just drove it back and noticed the oil pressure on hard accelleration is hitting high on the gauge. i personally havent seen it much above 4 bar.

the missus uses the car as a daily drive so im not to up on its pressures etc

on average i need to top up a lite of oil every three months (had it 6 months)

it doesnt smoke
water temp is normal

im just worried about the sludge and the oil pressure.
Im going to flush the rad out this weekend and see if i get any more coolant loss.

as for performance it feels flattish. BUT i drive a 200 horse Renault 5 GT turbo everyday pushing 20 psi and a dirty great cam so even getting into my mates cars they feel flattish to.

the missus drives it every where at no more than 4k revs so never boots it. so she cant comment on whether the performance is flat.
it doesnt feel as responsivive to me as it should, but like i said, i drive a rocket every day.


anyone got any suggestions? or anyone close to the mansfield area who has one can drop round so i can be sure it is or is not the headgasket.


cheers all

[Maka@shakenbakeracing]

ignore my bad spelling
one day ill learn to slow down and read what i have typed


thanks all

[ClioDan87]

Well to my knowledge, valvers usually burn a litre of oil per 1000 miles?

Also sounds exactly like a headgasket problem to me!

Are you having to top the water up regularly?

Also do you have wamr heaters or are they cold?

Dan

[BristolSam16v]

Oil consumption sounds totally normal.

Clean the header tank, if it smells of exhaust fumes after you've done a flush or if its bubbling most likely HG failure.

If it isn't overheating and you aren't loosing coolant/oil sounds fine to me, any mayo in the cap?

Pressure sounds fine as well, obviously the pressure is going to increase with revs as the oil pump is connected to the belt. If you're revving nearish redline pressure is going to be near max.

[Maka@shakenbakeracing]

i used to have a 19 16valve and that used same amount of oil as this does so im not worried at all.

the heaters work fine
water temp stays fine.

theres no sign of headgasket failure under the oil cap..its clean.
just the water header tank that gets chocked up with oily residue.
i might just be being over cautious as im off to the ring end of march. fingers crossed.

ill do a rad flush tomorow and see if it holds the water.


thanks all

[ClioDan87]

I dont think its gone now then mate .... possibly had a HG gone before?!

Dan

[Coops]

comp test the lump n all mate, as said on rtoc

[Swervin_Mervin]

Get a new cap for the header bottle.

Works every time.

[Swervin_Mervin]

Oh and get the cooling system thoroughly flushed before you do. The sludge will just be crap in the block and suggests it hasn't been having coolant changes as regularly as it should.

Mine was the same but now seems to be fine. Fitted a new cap today.

[BRUN]

give it a really good flush and go from there