New here with broken car.

[Diddles]

Thanks, I'll check time after I get to work tomorow morning. I don't have symptoms of head gasket failure so bit stumped really, I don't really want to have to do another head gasket.

Ill monitor it and see how things go.

 

[Diddles]

Just been for a drive to get fuel and I drove it like a stole it to get it toasty, checked all hoses, top hose warm and firm but still able to squeeze it.

Surely if that amount of bubbles was caused by exhaust gas it would blow the rad cap?

Maybe the cooling system is letting in air from somewhere. Might do a headgasket test with the liquid which detects exhaust gas, that would show something if that is all exhaust gas going into the coolant.

 

[Diddles]

I just done a head gasket test, and it's as I suspected. Exhaust gases in the coolant. Now it's either a head gasket, maybe a cracked head? Going to have to strip it all down again I suppose. Just come back from centre parcs, which was 170 mile round trip and it was faultless, temp gauge stayed put and averaged 43mpg.
Could the chipped pistons have anything to do with it?

 

[LostKiwi]

No. They don't have anything to do with cooling channels.

 

[Diddles]

Oh OK, I'll have to strip it back down and hopefully the head gasket has failed. It wasn't a genuine gasket so if everything looks OK I'll fit a genuine one.

Not looking forward to doing it again as its my daily drive so will have to get it done in a day.

Probably going to leave it until I start seeing more symptoms as at the moment it's not showing any other symptoms and wouldn't have known about the bubbles if I hadn't looked for it.

 

[LostKiwi]

Elring do good quality gaskets.

 

[Diddles]

Elring do good quality gaskets.

Thanks, I think the one I installed was a fai. Need to get some new head bolts and a head gasket and the tensioner cover etc.
What else could it possibly be apart from a head gasket? This would be the 3rd head gasket it's had in the cars lifetime, 1st was when the front cover seals went.

 

[LostKiwi]

Thanks, I think the one I installed was a fai. Need to get some new head bolts and a head gasket and the tensioner cover etc.
What else could it possibly be apart from a head gasket? This would be the 3rd head gasket it's had in the cars lifetime, 1st was when the front cover seals went.

Warped head (was it skimmed last time?), warped block (easy checked), cracked head, slipped liner (don't think it uses them) or cracked block (very unlikely - only ever heard of one and that was a seriously over tuned engine where the block flexed).

 

[Diddles]

The head wasn't skimmed as it didn't over heat so didn't think it was needed. Looked visually OK.

 

[LostKiwi]

Did you check it with s straight edge?
Put a straight edge across the diagonal and check with a feeler gauge for any low spots. Repeat on the opposite diagonal (same method used for blocks). Typically any more than 0.0015' is a fail.

 

[Diddles]

I did with the block, but I don't think I did with the head. Will check that when I have it off again.