Coolant problems - Thermostat? Diagnosed Head Gasket!?

[Mikeoupe]

Hi,

I wonder if anyone can help? or offer us some advise please?

Our 05 Mini Cooper has been causing us a bit of trouble lately. Firstly it started loosing coolant and more recently it's blowing nothing but cold air into the cabin, the temp gauge occasionally going into the Red (returning to normal moments later) and the fan blowing etc (even in these freezing temps)

After a quick Google I found a few references to thermostats causing a problem so assumed that was the problem and booked it into a local garage, only to receive a call to say that the head gasket is gone! I have to say I was a bit surprised as I'd checked both coolant and oil and found nothing out of the ordinary. They tell me they've done a chemical test on the water and the that the system is pressuring with the engine running.

I suppose I'm looking for any experience of such problems, does the head gasket diagnosis sound plausible on an 05 car with 60k on the clock? I appreciate it's possible but is it likely? everything pointed to a faulty thermostat / housing to me but I'm no expert ...

Thanks for any comments.

Mike

[RKDE]

Not a common problem on the mini and they are rare to go. Some unlucky people will suffer with the issue.

Book time is 8-10hours and £90 (I think) for the gasket. If they have done the test it could be that or more common is for the oil cooler to pack up which will mix the water and oil together. Oil coolers are 90% more common than a head gasket. Though if the garage had identified it to be the head gasket then that is very unlucky. You may have had an air lock caused by a coolant change - common on the Cooper and One

[DarkMatter]

Our '55' registered MINI Cooper with 30k miles kept losing coolant. I had the cooling system pressure tested and was told that the thermostat housing (plastic) was at fault. I bought a new housing and thermostat from MINI and fitted it myself. I followed the instructions in my Haynes manual and found it to be quite straightforward, probably took me an hour or two. This solved our coolant loss problem.

[Mikeoupe]

Thanks for your comments.

I took the car to a local BMW independent for a 2nd opinion who ruled out the head gasket and diagnosed the thermostat / thermostat housing which has been replaced.

[AOK]

Sounds exactly like what I had driving to Poland last summer (at top speed I should add). Coolant very low, a little bit of steam occasionally, the temp gauge would shoot RIGHT up when the car was static, only to go back down to 50% when I'd start to move.

Took it to BMW - diagnosis was a cracked thermostat housing. Got it fixed same day at Polish labour rates

Make sure you have had the thermostat replaced as well as the housing. It probably costs more than the housing itself but may have been the reason for the housings failure

[gonzales]

Mikeoupe said:

Thanks for your comments.

I took the car to a local BMW independent for a 2nd opinion who ruled out the head gasket and diagnosed the thermostat / thermostat housing which has been replaced.

Sounds like another dealer that is employing monkeys instead of proper mechanics. I had one that couldn't diagnose a faulty alternator after a week of having the car, yet an indie spotted it straight away. Glad you got it sorted.