Headgasket... Why?

[Rob Thomson 6]

All of ~400 miles after being back on the road I think the headgasket's going/gone on my 205 1.6 GTi.

 

When I first put it back together I noticed that it was pumping a bit of coolant out through the header-tank breather, but it seemed to stop (after ~100 miles or so) and I assumed I'd just over-filled it and stopped worrying. Then the other day the collant level warning light started to flicker. Bollocks. I optimistically topped it up, but today after ~50 miles the b*stard's come back on. It's obviously coming from the breather; there are no obvious leaks anywhere else and there's the usual white dried-glycol marks on the tank and bulkhead. There's no sign of any Mayo in the engine breather, and it seems to be running fairly well. I've inspected the rad cap's seal and it looks fine, so I don't think there's an easy fix.

 

I can't think of anything to cause this other than headgasket failure. When the car was apart I had the head skimmed as a precaution and spent ages cleaning up the liner and block surfaces before fitting the new gasket. I used new bolts, and torqued them up as-per the Dave Baker method (25>50>75lb.ft). Then, as it sat for a few months before it ran I checked the bolts again before turning the key.

 

I don't want to go to the hassle of taking it to bits again if this is going to happen again. What have I done wrong?

 

Thanks, Rob.

[jeremy 71]

You may just find you need a new header tank cap, as I had this exact same thing.

[Rob Thomson 6]

Yeah, I'll definitely give that a try but for some reason I'm not hopeful (probably filled with dread at the thought of taking so much apart AGAIN, and having to do it in the cold...)

 

Thanks.

[DamirGTI 344]

... cracked liner maybe :

 

http://forum.205gtidrivers.com/index.php?s...&hl=coolant

 

http://forum.205gtidrivers.com/index.php?s...&hl=coolant

 

Damir

[Rob Thomson 6]

Hmmm... I'd be very surprised though I suppose anything's possible.

[jeremy 71]

Do a compression test. If you do not have a compression tester they are only about £17 and very easy to use.

[Mikey S 29 1 Cars]

a leak down test would show alot more than a simple compression test.

[Richie-Van-GTi 73 2 Cars]

a leak down test would show alot more than a simple compression test.

 

 

very true but if your inexperienced with such testers its easy to confuse a leaking valve with a leaking gasket / ring. if you suspect head gasket for coolant loss you need to do a sniffer test. Any local garage should do it for next to nothing as it takes 5 minutes if you drive in.

[steve@cornwall 100]

A blocked or kinked return pipe would also make it overpressurise, wouldn't it? (small bore to top of rad)

[Rob Thomson 6]

I eventually managed to find time to get a new cap and it seems to befixed which is a result.

 

Thanks for all the advice, chaps.

[DrSarty 90 1 Cars]

Happy days Rob.

 

How we worry so about our 205s, which in effect heightens the enjoyment when everything is working spot on. Perhaps rather like nipple clamps!!

 

[richsmells 2]

Perhaps rather like nipple clamps!!

 

 

I've just swapped my cap as i noticed it had pissed coolant over the header tank despite temp being normal. Seems fine, although it's just clocked up 130k miles!