head gasket??

1. pezza-vts Infrequent Poster Joined: Oct 2010 paignton southwest! Posts: 172 saxo vtr black and yellow

   #1 30th November 2010, 12:51

   hey guys well last night i picked the missus up from work yea the car was fine!!! but comin back it started to feel slugish and not pulling as well. so got near my house and the temp light come on but the temp was only at quarter??
   
   ive asked a couple of mates wat they think it could be and they said it might be that... anyone else had this problem??
2. ct7331 Infrequent Poster Joined: Sep 2009 Solihull Posts: 143 MK2 Saxo VTR Breaking

   #2 30th November 2010, 12:56

   Take your oil cap off and see if theres any signs of coolant in there.
   
   Does it rev all the way or stop half way?
3. nash_sax L-plater Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 55

   #3 30th November 2010, 12:57

   To ckeck if it's your head gasket, check the following :-
   
   Take the water filler cap off and ckeck the water, if it's a white custard like sludge then your oil has leaked into the water, a sure fire indication that your head gasket has gone.
   
   Check your Oil Filler cap, again, if there's a white sludge this indicates water mixing with the oil, another indcation that the head gasket has gone.
   
   If after checking the above the car is still sluggish, it could be that the Head Gasket has Blown between cylinders (had this happen on a clio) - the only way to check this without taking the head off is to get a Copression test done, if 2 cylinders are down on compression then it's a sure fire bet that your gasket has gone between cylinders.
4. pezza-vts Infrequent Poster Joined: Oct 2010 paignton southwest! Posts: 172 saxo vtr black and yellow

   #4 30th November 2010, 13:01

   ive gone the oil cap and topped up the water this morning and was all fine.... somone said do a compression test on it.. but is it has gone in the cyliinders this means a new head yes???
5. nash_sax L-plater Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 55

   #5 30th November 2010, 13:05

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by pezza-vts ive gone the oil cap and topped up the water this morning and was all fine.... somone said do a compression test on it.. but is it has gone in the cyliinders this means a new head yes???

   no not a new head at all, it's just that the head gaskets are at their thinnest point where the cylinders meet so when they split they tend to go right there - the shards normally get blown out of the exhaust. it does mean ofcourse that the head will have to come off - while it's off, check for pitting or scratched barrels. if i had to put money on it i would say the head will be absolutely fine. just a straight head gasket swap would be fine.
6. pezza-vts Infrequent Poster Joined: Oct 2010 paignton southwest! Posts: 172 saxo vtr black and yellow

   #6 30th November 2010, 13:16

   well its a c2 vts head, and saxo vts bottom end lol.... ill get my mate to have a look at it asap... anyone know somone with a head for sale haha??