Nearly got screwed £350 for gasket

1. B+B Established Member Joined: Feb 2007 Peterborough Posts: 1567 Clio 1.6 GT, Vectra 2.2 SRI. ex saxo furio

   #1 6th April 2008, 17:21

   I lost all the water (blown hose) last week and the car overheated bigtime. called the AA out and they refilled the rad, The AA bloke said the head gasket would be gone for sure, and to get it to a local garage.
   The car seemed to run ok on the way home 70mph and no overheating, but I took it to the garage anyway, the garage started the engine and listened for about 30 secs and said definitely head gasket gone and would cost £350.
   So I bought a "engine block sniff tester" for £25 and tested it myself, guess what? no leaks & gasket ok.
   So if you think the head gasket is blown or the head is warped, test it yourself
2. bullit Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2005 e-hollywood Posts: 17160 toyata hilux

   #2 6th April 2008, 17:24

   so whats was the problem
3. leeK9 Established Member Joined: Feb 2007 letterkenny,donegal,ireland Posts: 1338 citroen saxo VTS

   #3 6th April 2008, 17:24

   seen this on the garage ,very clever
4. B+B Established Member Joined: Feb 2007 Peterborough Posts: 1567 Clio 1.6 GT, Vectra 2.2 SRI. ex saxo furio

   #4 6th April 2008, 17:28

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by bullit so whats was the problem

   No problem Bullit (now) just letting others know they can test the head themselves, if they didn't know before, newbies etc
5. B+B Established Member Joined: Feb 2007 Peterborough Posts: 1567 Clio 1.6 GT, Vectra 2.2 SRI. ex saxo furio

   #5 6th April 2008, 17:30

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by my_vtec_eater seen this on the garage ,very clever

   Thats where I saw it, and it works a treat
6. manc Established Member Joined: Dec 2004 Derby Posts: 1945 Pug 207

   #6 7th April 2008, 14:33

   Sniff-tester?
   
   Can someone enlighten me with some more info about this as I'v never heard about this before.
   
   Thx.
7. Mysticp Scotland Joined: Jul 2005 Edinburgh Posts: 9556 Saxo 1.6i 16v VTS, 2 Classic Minis

   #7 7th April 2008, 14:35

   I love it when garages diagnose a costly job by ear
8. Lozza_vtr Established Member Joined: Jun 2007 Sunny Essex!! Posts: 2342 VW Golf Mk4 1.8T

   #8 7th April 2008, 15:46

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by manc Sniff-tester? Can someone enlighten me with some more info about this as I'v never heard about this before. Thx.

   Like this fella.
   
   Tester
   
   
9. Andy72 Frequent Poster Joined: Oct 2007 Newcastle Posts: 825 306 GTI-6

   #9 7th April 2008, 16:16

   What you may be forgetting is that while the combustion tester is good, it only tests for combustion gases present in the cooling system. It does not test for gasket failures to external air. Every gasket ive had go has been to external air and they aren’t always the easiest to pick up. The car can run fine on a steady run at 70mph due to the cooling of the air, but heat up very quickly in traffic. They may also only leak when cold and run fine when hot, or even vice versa. Listening by ear may have picked up a ticking noise or bubbles/leaks visible. I’d still have a good check over again to be sure.