stundies

Hi all.
I have been losing water from the header tank for a while now, couldn't find where from until today (See pictures) . Do these pictures look like my Head Gasket has gone and needs replacing, they show the back of the Engine on top of the Gearbox housing. If the Head Gasket did need replacing, would this impeed the performance of the car at all as I have noticed today that it doesn't seem to "Get-Up-And-Go" as it used to do. What are the signs of a worn Head Gasket??



This picture is showing between the Turbo Manifold, notice the "Wet look" running down the block. (Arrowed)



Any help would be gratefully received.

P.S. Is it a difficult job to do on a Small Turbo ECossy with Air Con??

canuk

Are you noticing any smoke comming from the exhaust? Burning coolant gives off a white coloured smoke and oil gives off a blueish. That burning coolant could be signs of the head gasket leaking. As for those pics I'm not much help.

stundies

Yes, if I rev the engine whilst the car is stationary there is a slight puff of white smoke that has recently started to appear If the Head Gasket has gone, would there be water in the oil, if so I have checked the Dipstick but can't see any white milkyness.

ellicoss

Looks like head gasket to me mate most common place for them to go aswell dont need to have water in oil to have a head gasket gone mate as it has gone from water jacket out to get water in the oil its gone from water jacket to oil gallery and for white sm it has gone from water jacket to bores

tabetha

As said most common place to go, mine did not mix any water/oil etc.
The ONLY place it went was between water jacket and and outside of block.
Number 4 runs the hottest/leanest so always goes first.
My advice do it straight away.
tabetha

S3an

yip the gasket will probably looksummet like this when you take it off

stundies

Thanks K5SSY, ellicos and tabetha, you now confirm my thoughts.

How easy is it to do and will the Head Gasket gone mean a slight lack of performance from the car?

jonny halls

when this happened did you have any temperature/cooling problems with your car? how full should the header tank bottle be, got a baily stainless header on mine and no indication markings.thanx

redrsmk5

mate, thought you said it was now better than ever???? if it needs doing we'll sort it between us

stundies

It was until this morning when I took the misses to work, thought it felt strange lacking power but just put it down to being tired coming off night shift. Unless it's done Saturday, Sunday's Central RS day is a no go

stundies

Talking to the lads I work with at Bentley, it's been mentioned that possibly and more than likely the Head will need skimming. One question that did arise was "If the Head needs skimming, do the combustion chambers need re-volumising"??? .... not quite sure what he's asking, can anyone else help me with this one??

- Sim -

if you take the plugs out, it can be wet in the cyclinders, probably in cyl. 4 as this is the baddest one for "cooling"...

i had this issue a few weeks ago, my head did not need any skimming, depends on the km this issue exists and how you drove the car with it....

normally normal skimming is okay.... nothing else need, after that put the exhaust parts on again and the inlet parts, and ready to put it back on...

stookay

not sure if it was connected but when my head gasket went , car wouldnt
get full boost , ran like it had no turbo at all
regards