Head gasket and engine code

1. niallmoran Newbie Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 7

   #1 9th February 2011, 08:12

   Morning folks...had a saxo for only a few weeks but i think i've already broken it. It's a one careful (before me!) owner 2000 (W reg) 1.1 SX with only 48k (which i thought was a great bargain for 500 squid!) but this morning the temperature gauge went sky high and the heater stopped working so i'm kinda assuming the worst and the HG has failed.
   
   Not been much steam out the exhaust though but there has been a bit more than i'd expect recently but i just passed it off as the cold weather!
   
   So, assuming HGF i'll probably have a go myself (not worth getting a garage involved) and was looking at gasket/bolt sets on ebay (much cheapness!) and i'm not sure what my engine code is - any clues?
   
   Also, i'll probably get the head skimmed but can it be done without stripping the valves out?
   
   Or any budding saxo mechanics out there in the Dundee/Fife area who want a few beer tokens??
2. user_20080 Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.

   #2 9th February 2011, 08:33

   Before you go stripping it down & spending money do a simple test open the radiator cap & see if you can smell petrol thats a sure giveaway the hg has gone.
   
   
   Steve.
3. tajktm L-plater Joined: Nov 2010 Edinburgh Posts: 69 1998 Open (now closed) Scandal 1.0

   #3 9th February 2011, 08:53

   If it has gone i would be willing to come through to do it for you. Im in edinburgh PM me.
4. niallmoran Newbie Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 7

   #4 9th February 2011, 08:58

   will do - i'll let it cool down and have a look later on....will try bleeding later on just incase there's a random airlock...only problem is i'm at work and have no tools (just took my tool box out the other night - d'oh!) - what do i need for the various bleed points?
5. niallmoran Newbie Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 7

   #5 9th February 2011, 08:59

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by tajktm If it has gone i would be willing to come through to do it for you. Im in edinburgh PM me.

   Cheers taj
6. tajktm L-plater Joined: Nov 2010 Edinburgh Posts: 69 1998 Open (now closed) Scandal 1.0

   #6 9th February 2011, 11:52

   A 5mm alen key and a 2l drinks bottle with the top cut.off it and some tape so it seals in the top of the rad. Bleed points are rear left of engine a small schrader typr valve cap, and the 5mm aken bolt on the thermostat housing and one on the top right of the rad. A good guide some place here try a serch.
7. niallmoran Newbie Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 7

   #7 9th February 2011, 14:33

   braw - found a 5mm allen key and scavanged a big bottle and it seems to have refilled and bled okay but it tool a fair whack of water (prob a couple of litres). Seems to be running fine (only drove for about 10 mins) and didn't loose much (if any) water but there did seem to be a bit of steam from the exhaust. Couldn't see any bubbles in the coolant once it was bled. Tempted to get a bottle of k-seal and see what happens on the way home but i suspect i'll be getting home on the back of an AA truck
8. KrisB Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Aug 2009 Dorking,Surrey,M25 J9 Posts: 2616 Static -80mm Peugeot 405

   #8 9th February 2011, 14:35

   Never use K-seal or radweld. It'll only make more work for you.
9. niallmoran Newbie Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 7

   #9 9th February 2011, 16:34

   i hear you kris - radweld and k-seal are the sign of desperate times