Head gasket - Opel Vectra

stevie.enright · 23-06-2009 10:50PM #1

Hi folks,

A few questions regarding a possible head gasket failure on my 01' Opel Vectra. There is a fierce amount of pressure building up in the expansion tank after the car being driven for any considerable journey..Does this automatically mean the head gasket is on the way out? It is hard to tell if there is oil in the coolant as it is orange/ red in colour anyway...Don't know but perhaps traces of oil. Inside the needle does however, hold pretty steady and would seldom rise above 90c.

A friend who knows a bit about cars reckons the head gasket is on the way out alright but again isin't totally certain. He reckons as the car is at 122k and the timing belt was done at 98k I should take a chance and hold of on the head gasket for as long as possible and get both head gasket and timing belt done together as this will cut down on labour costs.

I'm thinking I might get a Haynes manual and attack the head gasket myself though as I'm not too bad on the car repairs and think I would have all the tools. Did anybody attack one themselves on a Vectra (1.6 petrol) and how did ye get on. I understand a complete gasket set with bolts is required to do a decent job and it would be necessary to get head skimmed also. Are there additional processes or materials required. Would hoses need to be replaced? How would the system be flushed at home? And how much would one expect a to be out for doing a job oneself? Finally are there any unusual tools needed, things to look out for? Think I'd sooner leave the car in a ditch than get it done at a garage based on what my friend was saying it could cost for a proper job.

Any thoughts welcome.

stratos · 23-06-2009 11:39PM

What makes you think the head gasket is gone. Pressure in the expansion bottle is normal as the system is sealed and the pressure raises the boiling point of the coolant, the hot coolant wants to boil and party but the sealed system keeps it pressurised and held together allowing the coolant to reach a higher temp without boiling. If you open the expansion bottle before the engine is cooled, the seal is lost and so is the pressure and the coolant immediatly boils over.

Some signs of head gasket leak are, using coolant but no obvious leak, bubbles in the coolant whilst revving the car from a cold start. Mayonnaise type sludge which is emulsified oil on the oil filler cap. etc

itarumaa · 23-06-2009 11:44PM

if you are worried about the extra pressure in the system, change the expansion tank cap, because that controls the pressure.

stevie.enright · 24-06-2009 07:42PM

stratos wrote: »

What makes you think the head gasket is gone. Pressure in the expansion bottle is normal as the system is sealed and the pressure raises the boiling point of the coolant, the hot coolant wants to boil and party but the sealed system keeps it pressurised and held together allowing the coolant to reach a higher temp without boiling. If you open the expansion bottle before the engine is cooled, the seal is lost and so is the pressure and the coolant immediatly boils over.

Ok stratos, what your saying makes sense but after a long journey with a friend (he in his car and me in mine) and to prove his point to me he opened his expansion bottle and there was no pressure in it whatsoever, while in mine there was enormous pressure. He was driving a petrol Astra. Also the main pipe going from the top of the radiator to the engine in mine seemed to be blown up with air.

Some signs of head gasket leak are, using coolant but no obvious leak, bubbles in the coolant whilst revving the car from a cold start. Mayonnaise type sludge which is emulsified oil on the oil filler cap. etc[/quote]

Its not using coolant and although it is needing an oil change there wouldn't appear to be any mayonnaise type sludge on the dipstick or under the oil filler cap.

stevie.enright · 24-06-2009 07:45PM

itarumaa wrote: »

if you are worried about the extra pressure in the system, change the expansion tank cap, because that controls the pressure.

Are you sure itarumaa? It looks pretty much like an ordinary plastic cap to me without any additional kit attached

DublinDilbert · 24-06-2009 08:14PM

stevie.enright wrote: »

Ok stratos, what your saying makes sense but after a long journey with a friend (he in his car and me in mine) and to prove his point to me he opened his expansion bottle and there was no pressure in it whatsoever, while in mine there was enormous pressure. He was driving a petrol Astra. Also the main pipe going from the top of the radiator to the engine in mine seemed to be blown up with air.

You should never open up any cooling system, even just to check something, cause you will get a face full of steam and boiling water everywhere....

I've no idea about the setup on the astra, but i'm guessing you opened up the expansion vessel that will never be pressurised. This does not mean the cooling system is not pressurised. The expansion vessel is just somewhere for the water to go as it expands... There'll be another cap / pressure valve some where in the system to regulate the pressure.

To be honest if your HG was failing you'd know about it. I think your reading too much into what your seeing. As with all old cars look after the cooling system and it will serve you well...

summermiles · 05-08-2014 10:31AM

i am putting coolant in resevour tank once a week then it goes low.had a preasure test done on engine its ok at present may be weak head gasket on opel vectra diesel.what would it cost to replace headgasket.