Earwig 89 Posted January 26, 2007 Report Share Posted January 26, 2007 Are there any easy checks I can do to see if my head Gasket has gone ?I am losing water more and more rapidly.....I know my Heater Matrix is to blame for some of it and I have a Major leeking secondary (Electric) water pump but when I smell the overflow tank it smells ever so slightly oily....Although it seems clear.Also when I leave the top of the expansion tank to get rid of Air locks after filling it back up it bubbles over when it gets hot......Is this normal? I was told it might be due to exhuast gasses coming through it ?My water appears clean and so does my Oil... No signs of white past on my cap or my Dipstick and although the oil is dark it's very clean....Am I worrying over nothing ?Mark. Link to post Share on other sites
SiGainey 1 Posted January 26, 2007 Report Share Posted January 26, 2007 Get down your local garage and get them to do a sniffer test on it - foolproof way of knowing... I also am losing water but the HG has been done - I think it's the heater matrix Link to post Share on other sites
Seademon 0 Posted January 26, 2007 Report Share Posted January 26, 2007 You checked your main water pump? Has the running of the car been affected? Link to post Share on other sites
djbigpete 0 Posted January 26, 2007 Report Share Posted January 26, 2007 Get down your local garage and get them to do a sniffer test on it - foolproof way of knowing... I also am losing water but the HG has been done - I think it's the heater matrix Thats what i thought but i took mine to my local garage when my coolant was boiling (120 degrees under normal driving) and was losing water. They did a sniff test on it and assured me my head gasket needed doing. I took it to the phirm for a second opinion (and as they had given me a much better quote for head gasket) and they diagnosed the problem as a cracked coolant housing and a broken thermostat. Had these sorted out and its right as rain now. I dont know if anyone else has experienced this but i was as puzzled as the mechanic who did the sniff test. Sorry, this doesnt really help but its got me baffled.Pete Link to post Share on other sites
Earwig 89 Posted January 26, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2007 Well I went to my garage and I have been told it looks ok....I have to dip a tissue into the tank to see if there is any Oily residue when it comes out.....Fingers crossed.....Will do it tomorrow when it's cooled down....I have no performance issues, it runs fine, no smoking or anything and still pulls like it always has.Mark. Link to post Share on other sites
petervr6 0 Posted January 26, 2007 Report Share Posted January 26, 2007 my headgasket went in a similar way.horrible smell from the coolant tank and bubling out of the side of the tank. Link to post Share on other sites
Russ_vr6 12 Posted January 26, 2007 Report Share Posted January 26, 2007 Are there any easy checks I can do to see if my head Gasket has gone ?Also when I leave the top of the expansion tank to get rid of Air locks after filling it back up it bubbles over when it gets hot......Is this normal? I was told it might be due to exhuast gasses coming through it ?Mark.if u leave the top off till it warms up mate it will bubble over coz the cooling system is a pressurised one, so with no top on it it wont have that pressure and will boil up,same effect as if u open ur cap when the car is hot,coz u loose the pressure in the system it bubbles out and would prob shoot up and burn the skin off ur face (seen that at work unfortunatly) so i wouldnt worry bout that mate Link to post Share on other sites
Earwig 89 Posted January 27, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2007 Yep I was told that the system is under High pressure and that was the reason for it bubbling over. So that is a bit of a relief :-)Also at the bottom of the electric water pump you can see it is soaking wet all around the pipes so I know it's leaking hard from there. Also with a suspect heater matrix squirting shite on my inside screen it's not helping matters.Only thing I cannot account for is the ioly residue around the overflow tank.....I can see no way it has got there unless it was in the water when I left the top of and it bubbled over.....Mark. Link to post Share on other sites
Russ_vr6 12 Posted January 27, 2007 Report Share Posted January 27, 2007 if the elec pjmp leakin mate fix it asap,coz the water can soak into the wiring plug by the pump,that big main 1? unscrew it and check mate coz if water gets on there it will cause u majorr hassle,trust me! Link to post Share on other sites
Keaty 0 Posted January 29, 2007 Report Share Posted January 29, 2007 Im have the same problem at the moment mate. Pressure slightly down on the back cylinders, but been told it aint much to worry about. Have done a combustion which was all clear. Most likely been told that it is probably the thermo playing up. So looking at this and the replys then it sounds similar. Hope it all goes ok. Link to post Share on other sites
jezmoz 0 Posted January 29, 2007 Report Share Posted January 29, 2007 you can get a kit from barryfords that checks your headgasket. changes colour if there is a problem. Link to post Share on other sites
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