Talk to me about.. Head Gaskets

1. iVTR Established Member Joined: May 2012 Posts: 1355 Mk2 Silver VTR

   #1 16th August 2012, 11:48

   Hi, yesterday my 03' VTR made some strange noise, and still does now.
   
   It's worth noting there feels no loss in power at all and there is no smoke coming from the exhaust at all.
   
   The car sounds a bit rough, tractory, sort of like popping like 'put put put put put put put put' at a constant rythme..
   
   It sounds like it's coming from the intake side of the engine, or it could be echoing up from the exhaust I guess.
   
   Anyone know what this could be lol..
   
   And I've been told it could be the headgasket on the way out.
   
   Car has done 82k, full service history cambelt ect and has water & oil!
   
   Cheers
2. holdawayt Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jan 2010 Stourbridge Posts: 7338 Nissan 200sx S14a

   #2 16th August 2012, 11:51

   Sounds like its misfiring but its difficult to diagnose an issue based on onomatopoeia!
   Do a compression test if you're worried about it being the Headgasket. Takes 5 mins and is pretty conclusive.
3. iVTR Established Member Joined: May 2012 Posts: 1355 Mk2 Silver VTR

   #3 16th August 2012, 12:23

   Yeah I know haha thanks for trying though!
   
   I'll get a video.
   
   I was hoping you would say that.. can I just go to my local garage for a compression test?
   
   Cheers
4. user_49404 Frequent Poster Joined: Dec 2010 Mid Wales Posts: 604 03 vtr

   #4 16th August 2012, 12:28

   buy a cheap tester on ebay and do it yourself?
5. holdawayt Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jan 2010 Stourbridge Posts: 7338 Nissan 200sx S14a

   #5 16th August 2012, 12:38

   Yup just go to machine mart or the like and pick up a tester. It's only cheap and massively useful.
6. iVTR Established Member Joined: May 2012 Posts: 1355 Mk2 Silver VTR

   #6 17th August 2012, 10:45

   Well, turns out it was a loose spark plug!
   
   Fixed in approx 2 minutes, and for free too which is a bonus.