froth in header tank?

[V8loudpedal]

Hi there chaps. (2000 elise S1 standard car, K series)

Hopefully this isnt signs of HGF...but if they are id like to know asap

on opening cap of header tank, both hot and cold, there is a cream froth and some scum in the tank. should i be alarmed? car runs normally temperature wise, is never driven at more then 3000 rpm when cold during my ownership.

oil filler cap is clean, and oil on dipstick is honey coloured and clear, last serviced in july 08, 43k, now on 47k.

any thoughts?

also, is there any alternative to installing a harness bar for four point harnesses, if not is eliseshop the best bet>?

many thanks.

[lee111s]

Get a sniffer test done by a local garage. AFAIK the head gasket can fail in different places and they give different symptoms. A sniffer test will confirm or deny if there are any hydrocarbons (exhaust fumes) in the coolant.

[V8loudpedal]

iv heard of them doing a sniffer test. thought this could be a good idea.

sorry, not up on all the acronyms...what is AFAIK?

[noodleman]

As far as I know.

[Stephanie Plum]

AFAIK - As far as I know.

Oil in the coolant isn't necessarily HGF though. Had similar scum in mine and once the head was off the leak was traced to a crack in an oilway down the front of the engine. In fairness the head had to come off anyway to fix it so head gasket was sorted at the same time.

Get it checked out for definite before doing too many more miles.

[griffter]

Whether it's HGF or not there shouldn't be oil in the coolant (which mixes and gives the emulsion). I had this on a Rover 200Vi. There were no other symptoms. It needs investigation.

[wetny]

Had this with Golf GTI. Was oil cooler fault.

[goodwoodweirdo]

Hmmm experiencing something similar, just brought my first Elise .... I know its been standing around sometime, the header was clean when I checked the levels before leaving, drove 300 miles home, check it in the morning and see a very little majo (brownish not the usual cream !) around the water line, I cleaned it the best I could drove the car all day and its clean ... nothing to see in the oil cap or dip stick.... the engine runs very well, no smoke, the temp stays between 87 - 90 depending on the traffic conditions.

I'm guessing (hoping) its picked up some old oil, possibly from a previous HG failure in the header tank and this caused the problems... for now it runs and runs well, so I'll just hold on see, and enjoy the car...

Cheers
Matt

[boobles]

Be interesting to see what the outcome was from the OP because that was my old Elise he was describing.

[bordseye]

stick your finger in the froth and rub against your thumb. is it oily? if so then fear hgf. if not, forget hgf unless your fingers smell of exhaust fumes.