Head gasket issues - help!
Discussion
Evening! Hopefully you can help me out 😁
About 4 weeks ago I our purchased a 2007 Corsa D with 62k on the clock. The car was priced low, but being young and naive I trusted the private seller enough when he said there was nothing wrong with the vehicle.
I brought the car home and it was fine for a couple of days. After a few days I noticed the car was emitting some white smoke which was a massive red flag - I looked unded the oil cap and sure enough there was a lot of gunk. At this point I realised that the coolant level had dropped considerably and the coolant tank was very dirty. At this point it clicked that the head gasket had gone.
I contacted a mobile mechanic who said he'd replace the gasket for £400, which included a skim. He came and agreed the car needed a new gasket. He went ahead with the repair and he completed the job. He told me to leave the car overnight before starting it up in order to allow fluid levels to drop (his words). The next morning I started the car only to have an immediate smell of burning coolant in the cabin. I checked under the bonnet and mayo had formed all under the cap and covered the dipstick - the coolant tank was completely empty. I contacted the mechanic again who then apologised and said he must have forgotten to change the side gasket (he described it as a 'side casing' that goes next to the head gasket - he said he'd forgotten to change it with the gasket and completed the job free of charge).
That was 2 weeks ago. Since then I've only driven it 250 miles and I've been conscious to drive cautiously.
The mayo has gone - there is no longer any gunk under the oil cap and the dipstick is clear but I've started getting the white smoke back again (worse when changing gear and when car is at 2k+ revs) and its losing power between 2-3k revs - not too much power is being lost but enough to be noticeable, feels as though I'm fluttering the accelerator even when my foot is still.
I did take the car to another garage last week to ask them to double-check if there were any issues. Surprisingly, they said that they couldn't diagnose anything - they done a pressure test and a temperature test and said the results were fine but they couldn't guarantee that the gasket hadn't gone again without taking the engine apart (which would cost a lot).
I'm losing a bit of coolant, roughly 50ml a day. Nowhere near as much as last time but still enough that I need to top it up.
Also I was driving earlier and the EMS warning light came on. It stayed on for about 60 seconds then went off.
Obviously I'm quite baffled. Why has the mayo under the gunk cap gone but I'm still losing coolant with white smoke? I can sometimes smell burning coolant in the cabin.
I've contacted the first mechanic again but he's yet to reply. From the job first time around I've got an invoice and a 6 month guarantee, so he should come and sort the issue. But what shall I look out for? What do you think the problem sounds like? The water pump and camchain were not changed last time around, would this cause and such problems?
Cheers
About 4 weeks ago I our purchased a 2007 Corsa D with 62k on the clock. The car was priced low, but being young and naive I trusted the private seller enough when he said there was nothing wrong with the vehicle.
I brought the car home and it was fine for a couple of days. After a few days I noticed the car was emitting some white smoke which was a massive red flag - I looked unded the oil cap and sure enough there was a lot of gunk. At this point I realised that the coolant level had dropped considerably and the coolant tank was very dirty. At this point it clicked that the head gasket had gone.
I contacted a mobile mechanic who said he'd replace the gasket for £400, which included a skim. He came and agreed the car needed a new gasket. He went ahead with the repair and he completed the job. He told me to leave the car overnight before starting it up in order to allow fluid levels to drop (his words). The next morning I started the car only to have an immediate smell of burning coolant in the cabin. I checked under the bonnet and mayo had formed all under the cap and covered the dipstick - the coolant tank was completely empty. I contacted the mechanic again who then apologised and said he must have forgotten to change the side gasket (he described it as a 'side casing' that goes next to the head gasket - he said he'd forgotten to change it with the gasket and completed the job free of charge).
That was 2 weeks ago. Since then I've only driven it 250 miles and I've been conscious to drive cautiously.
The mayo has gone - there is no longer any gunk under the oil cap and the dipstick is clear but I've started getting the white smoke back again (worse when changing gear and when car is at 2k+ revs) and its losing power between 2-3k revs - not too much power is being lost but enough to be noticeable, feels as though I'm fluttering the accelerator even when my foot is still.
I did take the car to another garage last week to ask them to double-check if there were any issues. Surprisingly, they said that they couldn't diagnose anything - they done a pressure test and a temperature test and said the results were fine but they couldn't guarantee that the gasket hadn't gone again without taking the engine apart (which would cost a lot).
I'm losing a bit of coolant, roughly 50ml a day. Nowhere near as much as last time but still enough that I need to top it up.
Also I was driving earlier and the EMS warning light came on. It stayed on for about 60 seconds then went off.
Obviously I'm quite baffled. Why has the mayo under the gunk cap gone but I'm still losing coolant with white smoke? I can sometimes smell burning coolant in the cabin.
I've contacted the first mechanic again but he's yet to reply. From the job first time around I've got an invoice and a 6 month guarantee, so he should come and sort the issue. But what shall I look out for? What do you think the problem sounds like? The water pump and camchain were not changed last time around, would this cause and such problems?
Cheers
I'm curious quote: I contacted a mobile mechanic who said he'd replace the gasket for £400, which included a skim...how did he skim the head? unless things have changed, to me a mobile mechanic is a guy in a van who pops over and does the job on your drive/garage...did he have a fully equipped workshop with mill and accurate measuring equipment in his van? Head skimming although a relatively easy machining process, it's not really something to do out of the back of a van, possible but not the norm...IMHO of course
Pete
Pete
PSH said:
I'm curious quote: I contacted a mobile mechanic who said he'd replace the gasket for £400, which included a skim...how did he skim the head? unless things have changed, to me a mobile mechanic is a guy in a van who pops over and does the job on your drive/garage...did he have a fully equipped workshop with mill and accurate measuring equipment in his van? Head skimming although a relatively easy machining process, it's not really something to do out of the back of a van, possible but not the norm...IMHO of course
Pete
Hi, Pete
He took it to a local engine repair garage to be skimmed.
Thanks
ahh...ok
mayo can be from condensation build up as well as a sign of a failed gasket, especially at this time of year and lack of use, some cars suffer this more than others, i'm afraid that I don't know how well the corsa does in this area...waterpump is possible, can you see any signs of a leak....check the inside too for leaks around the heater matrix. Coolant tank cap would be worth checking too, is it the correct one? You can usually see where a coolant leak is, have a good look around the engine, get it on a ramp if possible for a better view. First though I would talk to the guy who did the work, give him chance to investigate what's wrong..
good luck
Pete
mayo can be from condensation build up as well as a sign of a failed gasket, especially at this time of year and lack of use, some cars suffer this more than others, i'm afraid that I don't know how well the corsa does in this area...waterpump is possible, can you see any signs of a leak....check the inside too for leaks around the heater matrix. Coolant tank cap would be worth checking too, is it the correct one? You can usually see where a coolant leak is, have a good look around the engine, get it on a ramp if possible for a better view. First though I would talk to the guy who did the work, give him chance to investigate what's wrong..
good luck
Pete
I've never been a lover of head gasket replacement on diesels. Few people do it properly and there can be a crack in the cylinder head which expands when the engine is hot. That is conjecture. I would investigate first finding a low mileage s/h engine, there are some reputable suppliers about and in the end it often isn't much more expensive. I fully understand that that isn't a lot of comfort at this point and it is a shame when one buys a small economical car to get to work and to save on running costs when things like this happen. Hope that it gets resolved for you.
It is often the case that coolant can be smelt inside the vehicle after engine work, this is due to coolant being spilt in the engine bay, the spilt coolant will dry off after a few days of driving
If after a few days driving you can smell coolant inside the car there is every chance that the heater matrix has a leak, 5 days ago I bypassed a heater matrix due to the smell of coolant in a car and that smell has now gone away
If after a few days driving you can smell coolant inside the car there is every chance that the heater matrix has a leak, 5 days ago I bypassed a heater matrix due to the smell of coolant in a car and that smell has now gone away
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