Help - head gasket gone?!

[CurtBurr]

Hi, I've got a 2007 1.4 Corsa, with 62k on the clock. Just started noticing some white smoke from the exhaust, gunk under the oil cap, and a loss of coolant. Pretty sure I need the head gasket replacing.

I have looked about for quotes and the cheapest at the minute is £560 with a skim.

However one local garage sent me the following:
"Timing chain cover gaskets go all the time on these cars allowing the water to leak into the engine oil an mix causing the creamy colour around the cap. Price to replace timing chains and water pump is £350"

Is there a way to definitely tell that the head gasket has gone before forking out this much? There is no loss of power and no gunk on the dipstick, car drives well and doesn't struggle.

Just don't want to be ripped off. If it is a gasket replacement, what sort of price is reasonable? Thanks

Sorry if this is posted in the wrong section!

[njw1]

Do you do a lot of short journeys?

[steve-5snwi]

Get someone to do a sniff test on it, either price seems quite cheap.

[catman]

Most garages will have an item of equipment that detects exhaust fumes in the coolant. Will be an easy and cheap way to find out.

Tim

[CurtBurr]

njw1 said:

Do you do a lot of short journeys?

Hi,

I haven't had the car for long as it was a family members, but my understanding is that it was only used for short journeys. It's only covered 4,000 miles in the past 12 months.

Cheers

[Pericoloso]

Try and find a garage that can do a "sniff test".

It sucks in the fumes from the cooling system and if there is CO in there then the head gasket is most likely leaking.

[CurtBurr]

Pericoloso said:

Try and find a garage that can do a "sniff test".

It sucks in the fumes from the cooling system and if there is CO in there then the head gasket is most likely leaking.

catman said:

Most garages will have an item of equipment that detects exhaust fumes in the coolant. Will be an easy and cheap way to find out.

Tim

steve-5snwi said:

Get someone to do a sniff test on it, either price seems quite cheap.

Thanks for the help!

[V88Dicky]

Have a look on eBay for 'Block Tester', they're cheap enough and will tell you what you need to know,

Some good instructional videos on YouTube. HTH

[InitialDave]

Yeah, you can get a chemical test thing dirt cheap from ebay, start there.

[stevieturbo]

CurtBurr said:

Hi, I've got a 2007 1.4 Corsa, with 62k on the clock. Just started noticing some white smoke from the exhaust, gunk under the oil cap, and a loss of coolant. Pretty sure I need the head gasket replacing.

I have looked about for quotes and the cheapest at the minute is £560 with a skim.

However one local garage sent me the following:
"Timing chain cover gaskets go all the time on these cars allowing the water to leak into the engine oil an mix causing the creamy colour around the cap. Price to replace timing chains and water pump is £350"

Is there a way to definitely tell that the head gasket has gone before forking out this much? There is no loss of power and no gunk on the dipstick, car drives well and doesn't struggle.

Just don't want to be ripped off. If it is a gasket replacement, what sort of price is reasonable? Thanks

Sorry if this is posted in the wrong section!

How to tell ??? test instead of guess.

And just exactly how much coolant is it losing and over what time period ? And presumably there are no obvious signs of it leaking externally ?