Head gasket symptoms?

Mr Benevolent · 21-08-2011 9:48pm #1

Seems to be lots of symptoms for HG failure and I'm wondering if these ones fit:

- Coolant expansion tank level dropped about 1 inch over the course of 2 weeks.

- Coolant in the expansion tank has a thin film of oil and little white bits floating around.

- Oil level has dropped from half full to bottom of the safe level in the same period.

- Slight smell of coolant from the exhaust but no smoke/steam visible.

No odd noises, engine runs fine and it's not obviously overheating according to the thermostat.

Avns1s · 21-08-2011 9:53pm

Confab wrote: »

Seems to be lots of symptoms for HG failure and I'm wondering if these ones fit:

- Coolant expansion tank level dropped about 1 inch over the course of 2 weeks.

- Coolant in the expansion tank has a thin film of oil and little white bits floating around.

- Oil level has dropped from half full to bottom of the safe level in the same period.

- Slight smell of coolant from the exhaust but no smoke/steam visible.

No odd noises, engine runs fine and it's not obviously overheating according to the thermostat.

Sounds like the oil and water are mixing and both are going somewhere and the likely cause is the head gasket.

Any bubbles appearing in expansion tank when the engine is running?

Any "mayonaise" on the dipstick or oil filler cap?

Buffman · 21-08-2011 9:58pm

What car is it?

I once had similar symptoms with a VAG 1.9TDI which turned out to be a broken oil cooler.

Mr Benevolent · 21-08-2011 9:58pm

Avns1s wrote: »

Any bubbles appearing in expansion tank when the engine is running?

Nope.

Avns1s wrote: »

Any "mayonaise" on the dipstick or oil filler cap?

Nope to both.

Buffman wrote: »

What car is it?

'99 Corsa B 1L. No oil cooler, just an engine with the power of an elderly bumblebee.

Mycroft H · 21-08-2011 10:02pm

Possibly a small leak where the coolant is mixing with the oil.

lomb · 21-08-2011 10:06pm

Difficulty starting after a couple of days?

Mr Benevolent · 21-08-2011 10:09pm

lomb wrote: »

Difficulty starting after a couple of days?

It's never been left more than 18 hours between starts so I can't really test that. It starts every time but lately it takes a fraction of a second longer to start.

Mr Benevolent · 22-08-2011 8:35am

This car is beginning to make a Laguna look reliable. Maybe I should flog it now while it's still running without a problem.

L-M · 22-08-2011 11:38am

Lol yeah, anf give some other poor fella a problem :P

In my eyes if there isn't mayonnaise on the end of the dipstick you're alright, get thee to a mechanic and solve it!

22-08-2011 11:42am

Confab wrote: »

This car is beginning to make a Laguna look reliable. ..........

Let's not get carried away, as your oil level has dropped and there in no sign of water in the oil that's not too bad. Coolant loss could be just a leak and the amount you have lost isn't huge. I'd be more concerned with the oil loss than the coolant loss. Either way just keep both topped up

Did you get it NCTd yet?

22-08-2011 11:48am

Yep my HG was gone and within 3 days the whole coolant tank was disappearing. So alot more dramatic than what you describe.

Also have a sniff in the coolant expansion tank, mine smelt quite fumey, a sign that its going where it shouldn't.

Mr Benevolent · 22-08-2011 6:03pm

cisk wrote: »

Also have a sniff in the coolant expansion tank, mine smelt quite fumey, a sign that its going where it shouldn't.

Just back from work, decided to open the expansion tank and it was a bit like opening a big bottle of Coke. There's definitely gas getting into the coolant. I have a carbon monoxide meter, might use that to check if it's CO.

Did you get it NCTd yet?

I don't think it'd pass at this stage. Rear wheel bearing going, CV boot going, coolant and oil leak make it a non-starter.

Plug · 22-08-2011 6:10pm

Confab wrote: »

Just back from work, decided to open the expansion tank and it was a bit like opening a big bottle of Coke. There's definitely gas getting into the coolant. I have a carbon monoxide meter, might use that to check if it's CO.

I don't think it'd pass at this stage. Rear wheel bearing going, CV boot going, coolant and oil leak make it a non-starter.

Did it just make a hiss sound or did it actually fizz up?

Mr Benevolent · 22-08-2011 7:09pm

Plug wrote: »

Did it just make a hiss sound or did it actually fizz up?

Both, when I revved it bubbles started appearing. Actually i foun out when the problem is - the fan isn't working. At idle the temp will creep past 90 and the fan won't start. I got it down using the heater at full blast but I suspect a new fan will only stop things getting worse. It'll probably keep losing coolant and oil regardless.

@#$%£;!

Plug · 22-08-2011 11:07pm

Aye it must of over heated at some stage so. HG gasket failure =

slinky2000 · 22-08-2011 11:44pm

busted fans are common on those we cosra B's.

Sounds like a Head Gasket alright.

_Conrad_ · 23-08-2011 12:17am

Confab wrote: »

'99 Corsa B 1L. No oil cooler, just an engine with the power of an elderly bumblebee.

But do you remember what i said they sound like when misfiring? :P

Anyway initial description sounds very much like you've got oil in the coolant which on that car will be from a failing head gasket or cracked/warped head.

kfit · 04-09-2011 12:13pm

what are the main signs of the head gasket gone ?

L-M · 04-09-2011 2:33pm

kfit wrote: »

what are the main signs of the head gasket gone ?

For me I pull out the oil dipstick, when the head gasket goes water mixes with the oil and it becomes a creamy colour. Don't check and the oil filler cap as this could just be condensation, check on the stick.

Mr Benevolent · 04-09-2011 2:37pm

Limerick man wrote: »

For me I pull out the oil dipstick, when the head gasket goes water mixes with the oil and it becomes a creamy colour. Don't check and the oil filler cap as this could just be condensation, check on the stick.

Yup, which means my HG ain't gone. Bit of a relief.

Nissan doctor · 04-09-2011 3:24pm

Confab wrote: »

Both, when I revved it bubbles started appearing. Actually i foun out when the problem is - the fan isn't working. At idle the temp will creep past 90 and the fan won't start. I got it down using the heater at full blast but I suspect a new fan will only stop things getting worse. It'll probably keep losing coolant and oil regardless.

@#$%£;!

Check the oil pressure switch and the water pump too, both extremely common leak areas on those engines.

If they suffer any overheating at all though the head gasket will go as they area weak point on those. The engine itself is pretty robust otherwise and they are a solid car so could still be worth fixing. A simple sniff test will tell you in 2 mins if the head gasket is gone.

I'm doing one at the moment and to do it properly costs about €350ish on parts and head work(pressure test and skim) without labour. Specific timing tools are also needed for that engine.

Mr Benevolent · 04-09-2011 5:21pm

Nissan doctor wrote: »

Check the oil pressure switch and the water pump too, both extremely common leak areas on those engines.

If they suffer any overheating at all though the head gasket will go as they area weak point on those. The engine itself is pretty robust otherwise and they are a solid car so could still be worth fixing. A simple sniff test will tell you in 2 mins if the head gasket is gone.

I'm doing one at the moment and to do it properly costs about €350ish on parts and head work(pressure test and skim) without labour. Specific timing tools are also needed for that engine.

Thanks ND, it's leaking through the oil pressure switch. I don't think the HG is gone as the oil and coolant loss is constant but minor. I can live with topping it up every month.

kfit · 09-09-2011 4:13pm

Limerick man wrote: »

For me I pull out the oil dipstick, when the head gasket goes water mixes with the oil and it becomes a creamy colour. Don't check and the oil filler cap as this could just be condensation, check on the stick.

thanks limerick man, oil dipstick looks ok, just losing water every week, and some spluttering from engine on starting.

L-M · 09-09-2011 9:21pm

kfit wrote: »

thanks limerick man, oil dipstick looks ok, just losing water every week, and some spluttering from engine on starting.

Might not be related! Is it dripping anywhere?

Head gasket symptoms?

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