2008 Corsa D - coolant slowly dropping, slight sludge in the oil

waffleman

Ive a 2008 Corsa D 1.2 petrol

Noticed the coolant slowly dropping about a month ago.

Couldnt see any leak so just kept topping up every few weeks. Happened to check the oil cap and has a fair bit of sludge on it but nothing visibly inside the engine. There is a slight bit on the end of the dipstick but only about 3mm. The oil level is normal on the dipstick.

Im thinkin the gasket is leaking coolant into the oil but if i could get another year out of the car i would scrap it then.

The car is running fine. No mis fires, no white smoke or water in the exhaust. I guess my question is if i clean the cap regularly and the sludge doesnt get any worse could the car run for another year with no problems?

Alanstrainor

I presume your car doesn't have a temperature gauge? It really doesn't sound too good given the coolant loss and 'sludge' on the oil cap and dip stick. Cleaning the cap really won't change anything, it's merely a sign of bigger problems, eg head gasket failure. As for how long it will run, impossible to say. Until you get a compression test on the engine you won't really know.

waffleman

Alanstrainor wrote: »

I presume your car doesn't have a temperature gauge? It really doesn't sound too good given the coolant loss and 'sludge' on the oil cap and dip stick. Cleaning the cap really won't change anything, it's merely a sign of bigger problems, eg head gasket failure. As for how long it will run, impossible to say. Until you get a compression test on the engine you won't really know.

No temp gauge but i have torque android app and an obd2 reader - think i saw a engine temperature reading on that.

Yeah it looks like the gasket has failed - the car isnt worth fixing the gasket - i guess i'll take it to mechanic after christmas see what he says - maybe get him to put in a bottle of GASKIT sealer to see it helps - nothin to lose at this stage.

mullingar

Get one of these:

https://www.ebay.ie/itm/Car-Combustion-leak-tester-head-gasket-30ml-fluid-15-tests-Free-P-P-1st-class/272498960992?hash=item3f72342a60:g:CkgAAOSw9GhYmf2r:rk:1:pf:0


Quick €10 check to see if your headgasket is leaking coolant into the cylinders. It works by chemically testing for exhaust gas in the coolant expansion tank

waffleman

thinking of using this stuff:



http://www.alltasksolutions.com/Gask-it-how-to-repair-a-head-gasket-

are these products all the same or is there a better brand?

John.G

waffleman wrote: »

thinking of using this stuff:



http://www.alltasksolutions.com/Gask-it-how-to-repair-a-head-gasket-

are these products all the same or is there a better brand?

I have seen K Seal ULTIMATE working on two cars, make sure you get the ultimate @ ~ €36 and not the cheaper version.

eringobragh

mullingar wrote: »

Get one of these:

https://www.ebay.ie/itm/Car-Combustion-leak-tester-head-gasket-30ml-fluid-15-tests-Free-P-P-1st-class/272498960992?hash=item3f72342a60:g:CkgAAOSw9GhYmf2r:rk:1:pf:0


Quick €10 check to see if your headgasket is leaking coolant into the cylinders. It works by chemically testing for exhaust gas in the coolant expansion tank

Thats class...never seen that before have you used it before yourself?

Lucifer

There is also a good chance that the coolant loss is through the timing gasket and into the engine. Not as big a job as the head gasket.

I would recommend getting the coolant system pressurised with the plugs out to see if there is any leakage into the cylinder and if not you know it is the timing gasket

waffleman

Lucifer wrote: »

There is also a good chance that the coolant loss is through the timing gasket and into the engine. Not as big a job as the head gasket.

I would recommend getting the coolant system pressurised with the plugs out to see if there is any leakage into the cylinder and if not you know it is the timing gasket

Funny you should say that - i just got the timing chain and kit changed in the car about 6 weeks ago - before that im sure the coolant levels were not going down - i just assumed coolant could only leak into the oil through the head gasket.

Lucifer

Not on that engine. If surfaces not cleaned fully when fitting the new gasket it could cause it. Usually it is age and the rubber of the gasket has perished but if you only had it done recently it would be work checking. The coolant then just leaks straight into the sump

waffleman

Lucifer wrote: »

Not on that engine. If surfaces not cleaned fully when fitting the new gasket it could cause it. Usually it is age and the rubber of the gasket has perished but if you only had it done recently it would be work checking. The coolant then just leaks straight into the sump

Thanks for that - would the whole timing chain kit have to come off to seal any leaks in the new gasket?

Lucifer

waffleman wrote: »

Thanks for that - would the whole timing chain kit have to come off to seal any leaks in the new gasket?

Yes. Timing cover and chain would have to come off as the gasket sits behind the chain. Not too bad of a job.

waffleman

Lucifer wrote: »

Not on that engine. If surfaces not cleaned fully when fitting the new gasket it could cause it. Usually it is age and the rubber of the gasket has perished but if you only had it done recently it would be work checking. The coolant then just leaks straight into the sump

Im unsure how to approach this with my mechanic. He is a great mechanic - never done a bad job and goes out of his way to help me out e.g. doesnt charge for inspections, even rings round to get me good deals on jobs i need done at bigger garages.

However coolant is still leaking into the oil and I dont want the engine to get damaged by this.

The problem is he replaced the timing chain about 6 weeks ago. I would have no problem paying him to have another go at sealing up the timing gasket but i think even saying that might go pear shaped. Basically i dont want to sound like im saying "have another go at it as it wasnt done right the first time"

Any thoughts?

Lucifer

Did you originally go in for a coolant leak or has it only happened since?

waffleman

Lucifer wrote: »

Did you originally go in for a coolant leak or has it only happened since?

There was no coolant leaking into the oil before the timing chain was changed - i check it regularly - the chain was changed due to it being noisy.

Lucifer

Well then you dont really have any other option other than go back and explain that this is happening since. You dont have to go in pointing the finger, could as easily be a faulty or damaged gasket as a mistake on the mechanics part.

It can happen, we are all human and not every job goes perfectly. I had the same happen me on one of these engines, just missed a small bit or dirt/old silicone and it leaked. I had previously done around 50 before without any issue and probably done another 30 since.

Go back and explain and see what he says. He more than likely will apologize, explain that these things can happen, and replace the gasket and the oil and filter.

Car99

Just explain the issue and let him tell you what he thinks. No point telling him what you think it is based on some posts on an internet forum by people who haven't been near the car in question.

waffleman

Update: I got an oil change 6000 km after timing chain was changed to keep car on the road but it is now making a tapping noise which speeds up when I accelerate the and car is still producing mayo on the cap. The worst thing about this is its a slow leak - about 800ml in last 4 months - slowly killing my engine.

My mechanic wont accept that the timing gasket is the problem - he says the timing gasket is "only for oil" and there might be a crack in the head or block or bottom end of the engine.

He says only thing to do is use a gasket leak sealer in the coolant like blue devil or get a new engine. I'm very disappointed by this but not sure what I can do about it except try the gasket sealer.

Lucifer

He is wrong that the gasket is only for oil. I have probably done over 100 of them. It also seals the water pump which is mounted on the timing cover. Where are you based? There is ways to check it without taking cover off

waffleman

Lucifer wrote: »

He is wrong that the gasket is only for oil. I have probably done over 100 of them. It also seals the water pump which is mounted on the timing cover. Where are you based? There is ways to check it without taking cover off

Im in North Donegal - that would be great if you could tell me a way to check - I would like to avoid using a gasket sealer if possible

Lucifer

Best way to check would be to drain out the oil into a container. After it drains I would put a pressure tester on the coolant bottle and you would see coolant start to come out of the sump. If you see this it is either the timing gasket or the head gasket.

Having done countless amounts of these engines with very bad overheating to the point of not starting, I have never had one with a cracked cylinder head or block.

As the issue only started at the same time as the timing chain, it is likely to be the issue. If you wanted to be sure, you would need to remove the sump and with pressure on the cooling system you should see it coming down inside the timing cover.

waffleman

Sorry to drag up an old thread but want to ask a quick question.

Car is still running with the coolant leak - to be honest I'm not willing to pay for a timing gasket change. Gona just run the car now until it dies. There's 200,000km on it.

My question is at my next oil change I'm gona ask my mechanic to slightly tighten the 6 screws from outside the timing cover to try and stop/slow the leak from coolant to oil. Please see attached pic with screws marked in red.

Is this a bad idea?

Lucifer

waffleman wrote: »

Sorry to drag up an old thread but want to ask a quick question.

Car is still running with the coolant leak - to be honest I'm not willing to pay for a timing gasket change. Gona just run the car now until it dies. There's 200,000km on it.

My question is at my next oil change I'm gona ask my mechanic to slightly tighten the 6 screws from outside the timing cover to try and stop/slow the leak from coolant to oil. Please see attached pic with screws marked in red.

Is this a bad idea?

Pulley from the water pump blocks most of them so would need to remove fan belt, pulley and probably mount

jj880

Lucifer wrote: »

Pulley from the water pump blocks most of them so would need to remove fan belt, pulley and probably mount

Ok thanks - was thinking more along the lines of the screws breaking when the engine heats up or strippings threads.

biko

waffleman wrote: »

Sorry to drag up an old thread but want to ask a quick question.

Since you're the OP I will allow it.

Lucifer

Shouldn't break or strip threads unless he over tightens. Should be fine to just give them a nip to check they are tight but it is unlikely to stop the leak. Would you consider changing the gasket yourself?

jj880

Lucifer wrote: »

Shouldn't break or strip threads unless he over tightens. Should be fine to just give them a nip to check they are tight but it is unlikely to stop the leak. Would you consider changing the gasket yourself?

I did enquire about your coolant pressuriser idea to find the leak. Unfortunately no mechanics near me have one.

The furthest ive gone with the car is take off the rocker cover to clean out the white coolant "mayo". I have no tools for the job. Its fine - its my 2nd car at the moment - more a run around for short trips locally.

Thanks for all your advice on this thread. Much appreciated.

waffleman

oops thats another login I have on a different PC.