S1 head gasket
Discussion
Hi
Ive had a smell of coolant for a while now inside the cabin. Ive checked the water, pipes, garage floor etc and there appears to be no evidence of a leak. The oil isnt milky either. I'm concerned about the head gasket as I know k-series engines sometime have this problem. Any other symptoms I should be looking out for??? It's only done 8k miles. I have started booking trackdays for this year and I'm a little nervious.
Thanks for any help. Tim
Ive had a smell of coolant for a while now inside the cabin. Ive checked the water, pipes, garage floor etc and there appears to be no evidence of a leak. The oil isnt milky either. I'm concerned about the head gasket as I know k-series engines sometime have this problem. Any other symptoms I should be looking out for??? It's only done 8k miles. I have started booking trackdays for this year and I'm a little nervious.
Thanks for any help. Tim
If you are in the AA I would consider taking out the Parts and Labour cover now £55 for £500 cover.
What is the age of the car and how many miles?
Also check under the bonnet and make sure that no water is leaking from the hoses near the Rad, that will get in the cabin and confuse the issue.
Get it checked by a specailist (sniffer in the water I gather).
Welcome to the watching the temp gauge brigade. My HG happened last year on a cold day in Feb after 85,000 miles on a V plate 5 years old.
Gary
What is the age of the car and how many miles?
Also check under the bonnet and make sure that no water is leaking from the hoses near the Rad, that will get in the cabin and confuse the issue.
Get it checked by a specailist (sniffer in the water I gather).
Welcome to the watching the temp gauge brigade. My HG happened last year on a cold day in Feb after 85,000 miles on a V plate 5 years old.
Gary
garydvo said:
If you are in the AA I would consider taking out the Parts and Labour cover now £55 for £500 cover.
What is the age of the car and how many miles?
Also check under the bonnet and make sure that no water is leaking from the hoses near the Rad, that will get in the cabin and confuse the issue.
Get it checked by a specailist (sniffer in the water I gather).
Welcome to the watching the temp gauge brigade. My HG happened last year on a cold day in Feb after 85,000 miles on a V plate 5 years old.
Gary
Sorry just saw the 8,000 miles. Sounds like you should be OK with that sort of mileage, cannot give any grantees though. Many would say to take the front & rear under trays off then you can see if it’s dripping any water.
I've been trying to locate a slow but persistent loss of coolant for the last few weeks; no sign of coolant on drive, no mayonnaise in coolant or oil so HGF looked unlikely. I finally located it this evening. The car was nice and warm from the run home and it was cold and dark outside, left the car running and used a torch to locate the whisps of steam, unfortunately looks like my rad has sprung a very slight leak, really difficult to see the steam, under the rear offside of the matrix. No evidence under normal conditions so I'm guessing that the leaky coolant is evaporating.
Might be worth grabbing your torch whilst its cold and having a look.
Might be worth grabbing your torch whilst its cold and having a look.
When the smell of coolant is in the cabin, can mean that the heater for your car leaks a bit!, at least thats what happened over the years to 2 cars I've had long time ago(non lotus) but the leak can be small mostly at the valve(close/open at heater) or the hose of the heater...
If the principel of heating is almost the same as a ordenairy car...
GTRene
If the principel of heating is almost the same as a ordenairy car...
GTRene
Thanks for all the replies.
I noticed a small amount of steam yesterday when I was putting the car away in the dark and just as my girlfriend turned into te driveway. The lights were shining in on the front of the car. Front passenger side of the rad. I would never have noticed it in daylight as it was so small. I will be checking it out today/tomorrow so hopefully just a leaky rad/pipe.
I noticed a small amount of steam yesterday when I was putting the car away in the dark and just as my girlfriend turned into te driveway. The lights were shining in on the front of the car. Front passenger side of the rad. I would never have noticed it in daylight as it was so small. I will be checking it out today/tomorrow so hopefully just a leaky rad/pipe.
Yep, took a cold dark night and my torch to locate my coolant loss, definite leak. Visited my local specialist on way to work this morning, the clam removal is the unknown cost factor so couldn't get any sort of quote, just loud sucking through teeth. Bolts may come out easily, or, more likely, may be a b*$%*#d. In the short term I've used a bottle of leak stopper he recommended until I decide on OEM (same problem again?) or Eliseparts alloy item (overkill?). Will see how the leak stop holds up.
Leakstopper
for the moment it could hold,depends where the leak is...but in the longterm...when you do a trackday and then stop the car afterwards...the stopped leak can explode! leaving and even bigger hole...but for the moment, it could hold.
And if the problem is the radiator...I would do it good..take the alu aftermarket rad, I don't like alu/plastic rads...
GTRene
for the moment it could hold,depends where the leak is...but in the longterm...when you do a trackday and then stop the car afterwards...the stopped leak can explode! leaving and even bigger hole...but for the moment, it could hold. And if the problem is the radiator...I would do it good..take the alu aftermarket rad, I don't like alu/plastic rads...
GTRene
As well as Steve Williams
www.specialisedpaintwork.com/home.htm Behind Porsche at Junc 12 M4, Call Karl.
Both damn good. I use Karl due to location and a damn good job.
Gary
www.specialisedpaintwork.com/home.htm Behind Porsche at Junc 12 M4, Call Karl.
Both damn good. I use Karl due to location and a damn good job.
Gary
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