Head Gasket?

[Guest P Zero]

So I was out driving today (actually with someone who wanted to buy the car) and when we got back after a 5 mile drive from cold, the oil filler was full of mayo and the coolant was only luke warm. I think it was also smoking when it was cold, it stopped after 5 mins or so. Needless to say, I still have the car.

 

At first I thought the worst - head gasket. But could it be a failed thermostat?

 

Either way, I'm not in the habit of selling duff motors, so I need to get this sorted asap.

Edited February 10, 2008 by P Zero

[pug309twin40s 1]

mayo in pugs is normal on cold days especially when the car hasnt been driven far and warmed up properly.

 

does the car loose any water or oil??

 

check to see if theres any oilly residue in the expansion tank or any white stuff on end of dipstick.,

 

if you have a compression tester then do a compression test.

 

smoking is normal when cold unless its alot of smoke or blue smoke..

[Guest P Zero]

Yeah, all my pugs have had mayo in their oil caps at some point. I've never seen it on my Mi though.

 

The car deosnt lose any water or oil, theres no oily residue in the expansion tank or white stuff on the dipstick.

 

I dont have a compression tester, although one of my friends might have one. I'll try and borrow it.

 

It was very wet and foggy yesterday, perfect for making a car smoke when cold, even when warm.

 

I'm going to change the stat when it arrives anyway, and I'll flush the cooling system and see if anything nasty comes out.

[Guest P Zero]

Its not the headgasket

 

In fact theres no problem at all. There was an airlock in the cooling system which was preventing the water from circulating properly which explains the luke warm coolant. Probably my fault. I was in a bit of a rush to get it filled after refitting the coolant level sensor.

 

I drained, flushed and refilled the cooling system, being very careful to get all the air out. I ran the car for a bit as it says in the Haynes comic and I've got good pressure and nice hot water. There was no mayo in the oil filler and the coolant had no nasty scum in it either.

[Jer309GTi 3]

Thats a relief

 

You're still selling the car then?

[Guest P Zero]

Thats a relief

 

You're still selling the car then?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Yeah I'm still selling

[Miles 331 1 Cars]

Great buying point that if the owner doesn;t know about car's, Done that a few times now!!