Gti6 Possible Head Gasket...

[leon 1.9 0]

Well, my 205 has been leaking coolant a little from the bottom hose out the rad for quite some time, but I couldn't quite figure out whether the drop in coolant level was from that or a possible HG leak. I kept topping it up as necessary and made sure that it never got too low (there was always a level in the expansion tank, but it needed topping up say once a week).

I was also concerned that there seemed to be lots of steam when cold, but since its only driven once every few days and it was cold, I figured that its just condensation.

 

Anyway, found the hose was poorly fitting and not sealing so after moving it and tightening up the jubilee (plus fitting a new rad at the same time) its stopped leaking.

 

Now, its only been driven a few times since so I'm still not certain, but:

-I can smell coolant (but this could be down to spilling quite a bit when changing the rad and refilling it).

-The car gets up to temperature within say 3 miles (very quickly it seems). However it doesn't overheat, though if I stop for more than a few minutes the fan comes on.

-Can't figure out if its lost any coolant yet, have added some once, but only after I'd cracked the two bleeds to check the system wasn't airlocked.

 

Howver, my main concern is when I first stop and turn the engine off, I can heard the coolant 'gurgling', which I think will be any gas getting into the system coming to the top, and the cap seems to be releasing a little pressure. If I open it after a few minutes, there's only a little pressure, and hardly any pressure in it after say a 1/2 hour.

 

So, am I being paranoid, or has it probably let go? I've got all the receipts etc from the HG being done by the previous owner (inc. new head bolts), so I'm suprised if its gone again?

 

Can't very easily do a compression test right now (no gauge, live on my own), and struggle to get to a garage to get the coolant checked for hydrocarbons as I work most of the time they'd be open.

 

Any other tips or checks? Would you carry on driving it from what I've described?

 

Thanks

 

Leon

Edited February 19, 2009 by leon 1.9

[Anthony 1,003]

Easiest two checks are to monitor whether it is using coolant but no longer leaking, and checking to see if the coolant pipes quickly pressurised after starting the engine. If you're not seeing any of these two symptoms, and the engine is running sweetly with no hint of misfire, then I'd not worry about it too much and carry on driving.

 

I've got all the receipts etc from the HG being done by the previous owner (inc. new head bolts), so I'm suprised if its gone again?

If it wasn't done properly, or used a sub-standard gasket, it's entirely feasable for the head gasket to fail again in quick succession...

[leon 1.9 0]

Aye, though the guy was a trained mechanic and the parts were bought trade from Pug I think (I'll check) so it should be ok (unless the head isn't flat).

 

I'll see how quickly they pressurise up then. Another question I had was would I expect coolant to pour straight out if I open the bleed on the top of the stat with it off, and same question, but with it running?