head gaskets head gaskets

1. user_33838 L-plater Joined: May 2009 Posts: 64 saxo vtr 96

   #1 28th June 2009, 01:15

   i have seen that a lot of people are worrying about the temp of ther cars! loads of people asking if its too hot! well from my experience saxos do warm up faster than most cars and they do normally sit just over half way! this is normal and if the fan comes on thats a good sign!
   TOP TIP
   if you think your head gasket as gonehers wot to do
   1 lift your bonnet and remove your radiator cap.
   2 start your engine.
   3 hold a rubber glove around the neck of radiator (where you put the water)
   then if the glove inflates your head gaskets gone if not your fine.
   If you still think its too hot bleed your system!
   then change your thermostat if needed
   hopefully people wont need to ask this question any more
   Dan
2. biteme Frequent Poster Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 975 R32

   #2 28th June 2009, 01:36

   sticky for those non-greasy monkeys
3. NICK2506 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Apr 2008 Surrey Posts: 6424 Black '03 Mk2 VTS

   #3 28th June 2009, 02:30

   i think my head gaskets gone as i seem to be losing water but cant see it leaking.
   also my car overheated and the water all leaked out the system and steam went everywhere the other day.
   
   but i dont have classic head gasket signs....i.e. creamy oil cap, smoke from exhaust, pressure in radiator hose, bad engine running.....so i'll try the glove tomorrow.
4. TU-Tuning Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: May 2006 Bristol Posts: 16575 JP4urio, 306 DTurbo SportShed

   #4 28th June 2009, 02:32

   Never heard that before haha, sounds good though I see how it works. Nice one mate
5. user_33838 L-plater Joined: May 2009 Posts: 64 saxo vtr 96

   #5 28th June 2009, 12:30

   you prob wont see water leaking, as it tends to go through your pistons. Does it steam from the exhaust. Instead of a constant flow from exhaust sumtimes u'll get more like a puff puff puff lol best way to describe it.Try the glove
   Dan
6. leekeefy Newbie Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 6

   #6 28th June 2009, 22:46

   my car is in pieces due to above symptoms LOL
7. chriswoodward Established Member Joined: Aug 2008 Surrey Posts: 1326 05 Mini Cooper S

   #7 28th June 2009, 22:57

   If it overheated and boiled out with none of the other syptoms it might just be a dodgey water pump not pumping water round the system so it has time to sit there and just boil out
8. user_33838 L-plater Joined: May 2009 Posts: 64 saxo vtr 96

   #8 29th June 2009, 10:16

   or a thermostat not letting it through to the rad from engine
   dan
9. mcintyre19 Regular Poster Joined: Mar 2009 Bournemouth Posts: 347 2000 Saxo Vts

   #9 29th June 2009, 13:04

   my radiator went small hair line crack in the rad now my head gaskets gone, didnt have any usual signs creamy oil cap etc, was blowing between the cylinders sounded asif it was miss fireing
10. user_33838 L-plater Joined: May 2009 Posts: 64 saxo vtr 96

    #10 29th June 2009, 23:10

    ye iv seen that a few times it doesnt brake between oil and water just between the water and the actual cylinder
11. NICK2506 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Apr 2008 Surrey Posts: 6424 Black '03 Mk2 VTS

    #11 29th June 2009, 23:28

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by danvtrjones ye iv seen that a few times it doesnt brake between oil and water just between the water and the actual cylinder

    how can you tell if this has happened??
    does it drive like shit?
12. mcintyre19 Regular Poster Joined: Mar 2009 Bournemouth Posts: 347 2000 Saxo Vts

    #12 29th June 2009, 23:31

    yea really low down on power sounds awful
13. VTS123 Regular Poster Joined: Mar 2007 Poole, Dorset Posts: 447 Mk1 VTS

    #13 30th June 2009, 10:13

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by danvtrjones i have seen that a lot of people are worrying about the temp of ther cars! loads of people asking if its too hot! well from my experience saxos do warm up faster than most cars and they do normally sit just over half way! this is normal and if the fan comes on thats a good sign! TOP TIP if you think your head gasket as gonehers wot to do 1 lift your bonnet and remove your radiator cap. 2 start your engine. 3 hold a rubber glove around the neck of radiator (where you put the water) then if the glove inflates your head gaskets gone if not your fine. If you still think its too hot bleed your system! then change your thermostat if needed hopefully people wont need to ask this question any more Dan

    Do bear in mind though that if this test is done with the engine fully warmed up the coolant will boil once the cap is removed (and there is no pressure to stop it from boiling) and may give a false failure
14. user_33838 L-plater Joined: May 2009 Posts: 64 saxo vtr 96

    #14 30th June 2009, 10:26

    gd point yes it should be done cold lol
    and yes to tell if this as happend your car would run like shit and you would only be running on 3 cylinders and steamming also