How do you check to see if the head gasket has gone in your car?

 

Also is it all just wear and tear that causes this, i.e it'll happen on an old engine

Well theres 3 ways...

One is to get the system tested with a meter that can detect combustion gasses in the radiator.

Another is to take the rad cap off and look for :-

air bubbles like fizzy pop appearing once its warm

a creamy emulsion in the radiator water - usually by the filler neck.

 

Anything like that and the head gasket has gone.

all the water is disappearing very quickly so i don't know if its just a leak or not, i can't find where its actually leaking from. can't see the water leaking to the floor or anything

all the water is disappearing very quickly so i don't know if its just a leak or not, i can't find where its actually leaking from. can't see the water leaking to the floor or anything

 

Does your heater take a long time to heat up? or does the heater work poorly?

 

If so you'll find it takes quite a bit of water to fill the system.

 

I had exactly the same problem and found that my car was running on virtually no coolant, it seems to fill up to the cap then keeps going down and down.

 

I've found you have to fill it up till it won't take any more then take it for a short drive and work the air out the system, then let it cool and keep going till it's totally full.

 

It takes about 3 attempts but you get there eventually then you shouldn't have ot top it up that much

Does your heater take a long time to heat up? or does the heater work poorly?

 

If so you'll find it takes quite a bit of water to fill the system.

 

I had exactly the same problem and found that my car was running on virtually no coolant, it seems to fill up to the cap then keeps going down and down.

 

I've found you have to fill it up till it won't take any more then take it for a short drive and work the air out the system, then let it cool and keep going till it's totally full.

 

It takes about 3 attempts but you get there eventually then you shouldn't have ot top it up that much

 

 

Well it had some smoke coming out of the bonnet last night :shock:

Don't know if that helps lol

water pump leaking. Simple explanation - when it's cold, the metal contracts and leak stops. when it's hot, metal expands and it leaks. Invariably when it's hot, you are driving it - hence you can't find the leak.

 

good luck

 

jack

yeah but when its cold the water is still disappearing

Actually - with hind sight, I think it's the other way round. If it's water pump bearing seal failure then when it heats up, it seals as the metal expands. When it cools down, it starts to leak. Mine went this way, and the trays under the engine were catching the leak so you couldn't detect it when the car was parked. Have a look for white stains on the top of the engine undertrays - directly below the water pump.

 

Good luck

 

Jack

Apart from losing the water what makes you think the head gasket has gone? Is the car a bast@rd to start, like its trying to build up compression? When it does start does it run lumpy and can you see water or steam coming out the exhaust? If its no to these and the above symptoms then chances are you havnt blown the head gasket. Plus if you was losing that amount of water into the sump you would certainly know about it, the engine could start hydrolicing Have you checked the where the to water pipes go tnto the engine at the front this is a common water leak problem.

Apart from losing the water what makes you think the head gasket has gone?

 

Probably bird's complete lack of luck where a zed is involved , I hope this isnt another engine gone tits up for you mate.

Probably bird's complete lack of luck where a zed is involved , I hope this isnt another engine gone tits up for you mate.

 

Unfortuanely mate i bought a tits up engine. ill pm you and explain

"look in to my eyes, the eyes! don't look around the eyes look in to the eyes . . . . . and your under!!!"

 

you did not see the post that was previously here, in fact there was no post here.

 

click my fingers . . . .

"and your back in the room"

 

:tongue:

I have not hidden my thoughts on lack of customer service from that trader but good luck with the claim. As for the head gasket going my first thought would be is there any condensation coming from the exhaust or signs of oil and water mixing? brown mayonaisse type mess inside the oil and rad cap.

I have not hidden my thoughts on lack of customer service from that trader but good luck with the claim. As for the head gasket going my first thought would be is there any condensation coming from the exhaust or signs of oil and water mixing? brown mayonaisse type mess inside the oil and rad cap.

 

Didn't mean to post that up lol.

Whoops . . . not that im too bothered like.

 

my mate is a mechanic and he's going to have a good luck tonight. . . if it doesn't explode on the way to his that is :x: