Possible Head Gasket Failure - How Can I Be Sure?

[mattw 2]

Hi all,

 

Not a pug but I thought some of you might know the answer.

 

I removed the oil cap on my wife's Figaro yesterday and found a mayonaisey oil/water mixture underneath.

 

My instant thought was H/G failure. How can I be sure and what else could it be?

[allye 530 3 Cars]

At this time of year it is quite common/normal to have mayo in the oil cap area. The only way to be 100% of h/g failure is a hydro carbon test.

[mattw 2]

At this time of year it is quite common/normal to have mayo in the oil cap area. The only way to be 100% of h/g failure is a hydro carbon test.

 

I assume my local garage could do one of these?

[allye 530 3 Cars]

Yer, only a couple of quid I imagine.

[mattw 2]

Is this also known as the "Sniff test"?

[Tom Fenton 1,548]

Yes.

 

However, it is overheating, or using water? What colour is the oil?

 

If it is overheating, using water, or the oil looks like pea soup then yes you need to do something about it.

 

If it does/shows none of the above I'd continue to use it and put the mayo down to the cold damp weather.