Head Gasket??

1. Plantytheblue Newbie Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 23

   #1 13th May 2010, 12:31

   Looked under my bonnet the other day as my power steering has stopped working and noticed alot of oil on the engine ?? Is this common or has the head gasket gone?? There doesn't seem to be a leak i haven't put any oil in and the levels are okay
2. Tom5190 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Sep 2007 Someones Bumhole Posts: 5721 Mk2 16v Desire

   #2 13th May 2010, 12:56

   Pictures?
3. huricane Established Member Joined: Feb 2010 cardiff Posts: 1414 saxo Vtr

   #3 13th May 2010, 13:01

   oil on the engine thats not common but for the head gasket you can do some checks before taking to the garage is to check your oil filler cap see if it got a mayonaise looking stuff in or around it if your blowing alot off smoke form zorst or if you got a oily on top off you water in your expansion tank
4. Stevo123 Established Member Joined: Apr 2009 Redcar Posts: 1971 2000 Posi Blue vtr

   #4 13th May 2010, 14:45

   Find were the leak is coming from to be sure, pretty obvious you might not have thought to check that first (not being sarcastic mate). Maybe have a clean up in thhat area to make it easier to spot?
5. Railroader Established Member Joined: Dec 2009 Bolton Posts: 1068 Saxo 1.4i sx

   #5 13th May 2010, 16:36

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by huricane oil on the engine thats not common but for the head gasket you can do some checks before taking to the garage is to check your oil filler cap see if it got a mayonaise looking stuff in or around it if your blowing alot off smoke form zorst or if you got a oily on top off you water in your expansion tank

   a smoking exhaust is symptomatic of valve stem oil seals
   , or worse a knackered engine, rather than head gasket surely
6. user_35312 Established Member Joined: Jun 2009 Coventry CV6 Posts: 2477 Slowda Octavia vRS SOLD - Cam'd Chip'd VTR

   #6 13th May 2010, 16:50

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by Railroader a smoking exhaust is symptomatic of valve stem oil seals , or worse a knackered engine, rather than head gasket surely

   nah what he means is the coolant coming from the exhaust, not billowing smoke because the piston is about to come through the block lol.
   
   Get a pic of the leak, rocker cover gasket is a common one
7. gazwiththevtr Infrequent Poster Joined: Mar 2010 Prestwick Posts: 239 Currently Own Citroen Saxo VTR Previously Owne

   #7 13th May 2010, 17:02

   could be a number of things mate ...You say your power steering has stopped working ? could be power steering fluid thats on your engine and not oil .
   
   Head gasket symptoms are a white/mayo residue in your oil (lift the cap to see) but this doesnt always mean head gasket failure ,could also be because you do a lot of short journeys in the car ,ie to the shops and back ..
   
   also white steam from the exhaust - if theres a lot of it then likely the gasket is fooked
   
   overheating is a definite if your gasket is away ,and also if the car is drinking lots of water.
8. warner88vts Infrequent Poster Joined: Nov 2009 thame Posts: 146 Citroen Saxo Vts...

   #8 16th May 2010, 09:53

   hurricane is right or it might be a rocket cover seal
9. huricane Established Member Joined: Feb 2010 cardiff Posts: 1414 saxo Vtr

   #9 17th May 2010, 04:30

   you can try this i dont know if it works as i read it on another site
   
   first thing is to go to your car when its cold and
   1)pop your bonnet
   2)start your engine
   3)remove the water fiiler cap (top of radiator)
   4)take 1 rubber glove (like doctors wear) and hold it round the neck of the radiator!
   
   Know if the rubber glove inflates your head gaskets naffed and needs replacing!
10. Plantytheblue Newbie Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 23

    #10 17th May 2010, 08:00

    cheers i'll try that tonight see what it brings, the car isn't over heating engine is running fine was just concerned by the oil thats all.