Possible head gasket failure?

Wailin

I did a minor service on my suzuki jimny today, oil and oil filter and changed and flushed coolant system. When i emptied out the expansion reservoir i noticed some brown sludge in the bottom. I'm also getting white smoke from the exhaust, not a whole lot but it's there. Is there oil mixing with the coolant maybe?

The oil i removed was fairly black but not creamy which seems ok, but im wondering is there oil leaking into the coolant system causing the brown sludge i found? Only have this 2 weeks and don't need the headache of a big problem like head gasket blown! Coolant level was pretty much constant since i had it, no drops or rises, so hopefully its just different coolant used in the past and not mixing with fresh coolant. What do you think lads?

scannerd

Brown sludge at the bottom of a coolant tank can be metal erosion - normal enough if its a cast iron block/ parts in system, oil sludge tends to be at the top, the white smoke would be a concern, pressure test and combustion gas test on the cooling system would only take 15 min and give you definitive answer.

Wailin

Any place you'd recommend near dublin to get it done scannerd?

dvdman1

LN motors santry

listermint

You can do the exhaust gas test yourself with one of these.

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F272706523301

I used one I was losing some coolant. After a positive test .

Ended up doing a head gasket replacement, timing belt and water pump. Myself,Obviously as the prices I was given were silly.

The test is easy to do few minutes.

Wailin

Cheers listermint, went ahead and bought the kit, see how it goes.

DublinDilbert

Sniff tests on the coolant not always accurate, had a mechanic do a positive test on a bmw, later found the loss of coolant was a bad o-ring. I know people who won't use these tests any more.

If you have a failing HG you'll know all about it, often people pull the head off a car as they can't find a coolant leak...

Wailin

Yeah I think its fine actually. Did 120 Miles in it yesterday and it didn't skip a beat. I reckon the white smoke could be water evaporation, she's been off road in water a few times since I've had it. Didn't notice any yesterday at all.

listermint

DublinDilbert wrote: »

Sniff tests on the coolant not always accurate, had a mechanic do a positive test on a bmw, later found the loss of coolant was a bad o-ring. I know people who won't use these tests any more.

If you have a failing HG you'll know all about it, often people pull the head off a car as they can't find a coolant leak...

If you have a failing HG you'll know about it ?


The only sign on mine was lose of coolant. Approx drop about 10mm every 160km .

How would I know about it other than a sniff test determining that their was exhaust gas in the coolant reservoir and the loss of coolant.

Having checked all over for leaks and finding none it stands to reason the head has to come off.

There's no 'knowing about it' it's evidence based. Do the lads that you know who won't use these tests anymore whisper to he car ? Are they car whisperers?

Mines fixed now three weeks, perfect.