Is it HGF? PH mechanic types step forward...
Discussion
Before I start I'd like to ask that none of you judge me for this. I disapprove of my parents' cars and how they maintain them, just as they disapprove of my cars and me getting the odd blob of oil on the drive...
Here's the situation: My Dad drives a 2004 Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 SXI (pre-Twinportapotty) with just shy of 69000 miles on the clock that hasn't been serviced since 2006 (to keep the warranty for the third year) despite me advising them that it'd probably do it some good. When I was using it to jump start my BMW on Tuesday morning I noticed that there was no coolant visible in the expansion tank, so I pointed it out to my Dad who bought some coolant and asked me to mix it and top it up. I did so this morning and thought, whilst I was under the bonnet, that I may as well check the oil for him and top it up if necessary.
I was greeted by positively the most sludgy horrible oil I've ever seen on the dipstick, as you'd imagine, that was also low so I undid the oil cap and saw what I've taken pictures of below. Now, the last time I saw this mayo type stuff was on my old 850 T5 and it turned out to be head gasket failure.
I've had a proper look around the car as well as putting it up on my ramps and not found any leaks in the cooling system, which pretty much rules that out as the cause of coolant loss. I also took it for a quick run to get it up to temperature/see if it overheats at all, which it didn't.
So, what do you chaps reckon? It may seem obvious to you but I'm not a trained mechanic/engineer and I just learn how to do things on my car as and when they need to be done, so I don't want to jump to any conclusions and have them fearing big bills if it's really not necessary.
Pics:
Thanks in advance,
Adam.
Here's the situation: My Dad drives a 2004 Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 SXI (pre-Twinportapotty) with just shy of 69000 miles on the clock that hasn't been serviced since 2006 (to keep the warranty for the third year) despite me advising them that it'd probably do it some good. When I was using it to jump start my BMW on Tuesday morning I noticed that there was no coolant visible in the expansion tank, so I pointed it out to my Dad who bought some coolant and asked me to mix it and top it up. I did so this morning and thought, whilst I was under the bonnet, that I may as well check the oil for him and top it up if necessary.
I was greeted by positively the most sludgy horrible oil I've ever seen on the dipstick, as you'd imagine, that was also low so I undid the oil cap and saw what I've taken pictures of below. Now, the last time I saw this mayo type stuff was on my old 850 T5 and it turned out to be head gasket failure.
I've had a proper look around the car as well as putting it up on my ramps and not found any leaks in the cooling system, which pretty much rules that out as the cause of coolant loss. I also took it for a quick run to get it up to temperature/see if it overheats at all, which it didn't.
So, what do you chaps reckon? It may seem obvious to you but I'm not a trained mechanic/engineer and I just learn how to do things on my car as and when they need to be done, so I don't want to jump to any conclusions and have them fearing big bills if it's really not necessary.
Pics:
Thanks in advance,
Adam.
Ray Luxury-Yacht said:
I disagree. I reckon that is just a bulid up from short journeys / a lack of use / not being thrashed enough, coupled with poor maintenance.
Flush engine with Wynns, put in decent quality fresh oil, and take for an Italian tune up.
It will be fine.
Combined with disappearing coolant. Flush engine with Wynns, put in decent quality fresh oil, and take for an Italian tune up.
It will be fine.
certainly looks like HGF to me. More than just condensation build-up by the looks of things
DannyVTS said:
Certainely looks like it, quite a big fault on the 1.2's i see a lot of them go on the owners club
i'd say this.most people unfortunately would flush it and sell it on.
depends on how much the car is worth though. if it is a HG failure it may last for a very long time as is as long as you flush it every now and again
inman999 said:
Ray Luxury-Yacht said:
I disagree. I reckon that is just a bulid up from short journeys / a lack of use / not being thrashed enough, coupled with poor maintenance.
Flush engine with Wynns, put in decent quality fresh oil, and take for an Italian tune up.
It will be fine.
Combined with disappearing coolant. Flush engine with Wynns, put in decent quality fresh oil, and take for an Italian tune up.
It will be fine.
certainly looks like HGF to me. More than just condensation build-up by the looks of things
john_p said:
Of course, if you fiddle with it now, and it breaks, it's going to be your fault!
Get your dad to run it into the ground instead
Good point. He actually hates the car so he may like that deal because it'll give him an excuse to buy something else.Get your dad to run it into the ground instead
The Corsa was only bought (from me) to pander to my Mum's desires that he got rid of his old E32 that liked a drink.
I'd say pretty normal on those engines. They run hot anyway, and with old oil they can heat up a little more, which will allow some coolant to escape. Mine needed half a pint of water a year, more or less. Used a fair bit of that during the summer.
The sludge is normal enough too, due to a crappy breather design. The little rubber pipe from the rocker cover to the air inlet pipe clogs in cold weather. Again, that's an easy fix.
I'd clean out the gunge, clear the breather pipe, new oil, flush and replace the coolant, and see how it goes. I'm pretty sure it'll be fine after that.
The sludge is normal enough too, due to a crappy breather design. The little rubber pipe from the rocker cover to the air inlet pipe clogs in cold weather. Again, that's an easy fix.
I'd clean out the gunge, clear the breather pipe, new oil, flush and replace the coolant, and see how it goes. I'm pretty sure it'll be fine after that.
2 Wycked said:
hasn't been serviced since 2006
Do the engine flush first, if its not been serviced for 4 years then more likely than not the coolant and oil haven't been checked for 4 years, so its entirely possible this is just a slow build up over a large period of time.PEOPLE WHO DON'T LOOK AFTER THEIR CARS MAKE ME ANGRY!! (apologies for shouting)
This has reminded me of my father in law. His Mitsu L200 van (old thing) was showing the handbrake light for a few weeks so he disassembled the brake handle. Still couldn't fix it, so I offered to have a look. Bearing in mind he has owned the van for 13 years he couldn't tell me where the brake reservoir was, found it in the end and when we topped the fluid up the light went out.
All these people recommending engine flush - why? Often does more damage than good, especially on a worn engine.
Just give it an oil change. And if you're feeling super-keen then give it another oil change in 1,000 miles or so. Doubt it's needed though.
Most of all, if his use cycle of the car is not doing it any favours make sure it's getting more frequent oil changes than handbook specifies.
Just give it an oil change. And if you're feeling super-keen then give it another oil change in 1,000 miles or so. Doubt it's needed though.
Most of all, if his use cycle of the car is not doing it any favours make sure it's getting more frequent oil changes than handbook specifies.
As other posters have said - change the oil, put some fresh coolant in and take it for a good high speed run (as high as a 1.2 Corsa will go anyway!). Clean the engine breather system out as well.
Sniff test is always a good idea: had one done on my girlfriend's V70 2.5 5 pot last winter - the slight traces of mayo turned out to be due to condensation (thank f
k).
If the mayo reappears I'd say you're probably gonna be whipping the head off...
Oh, and boot your old man up the arse for not looking after his damn car.
Sniff test is always a good idea: had one done on my girlfriend's V70 2.5 5 pot last winter - the slight traces of mayo turned out to be due to condensation (thank f
k).If the mayo reappears I'd say you're probably gonna be whipping the head off...
Oh, and boot your old man up the arse for not looking after his damn car.
Dont use engine flush on any engine with some serious miles on it,knocked the mains out on my sri some years back,never touched the stuff since,get it really hot,and i dont mean a ten min drive around the block till the water temp is up,do a few junctions of the nearest motorway,change the oil and filter,and be prepared to maybe do it again to clear the crap out,then monitor the coolant level or get a co sniffer to detect hydro carbons in the system.
rigga said:
Dont use engine flush on any engine with some serious miles on it,knocked the mains out on my sri some years back,never touched the stuff since,get it really hot,and i dont mean a ten min drive around the block till the water temp is up,do a few junctions of the nearest motorway,change the oil and filter,and be prepared to maybe do it again to clear the crap out,then monitor the coolant level or get a co sniffer to detect hydro carbons in the system.
This is what I was told, and did do, on my old golf that had been sitting for about 8 months. Didn’t have anything like the sludge you have in thre, just needed a good clean out.If you want to clean the engine out it’s an excellent technique and if it is HGF the signs should return fairly quick.
Obviously take car when releasing the sump plug.
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