water loss

1. saxytrucker Newbie Joined: Feb 2015 east kent Posts: 11

   #1 18th February 2015, 12:15

   now i do know my way to a point round an engine but this at the min is stumping me.
   i ran the car upto normal working temp. ( till fan came on)
   i noticed i am using water sometimes a little, sometimes a little more. ive done the normal checks. no water in the oil and no oil in the water. no visible signs of water leaking from anywhere. there is a tiny little pressure in the top hose but to me this is normal. the thing that has stumped me is there is some soft lumps of caramel coloured goo in the water.
2. Gandi699 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 9100 Amazon green VTR 16v, Inferno RS clio 182

   #2 18th February 2015, 12:54

   Head gasket leaking very slightly across a water and oil way, very common on an 8v if thats what car it is you own.
   Could be oil a leaking oil to water heat exchanger if its a vts but thats rare
3. Samuel Frequent Poster Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 510 MK2 VTS

   #3 18th February 2015, 14:26

   Could be water pressure, loose lid on container. Have you flushed it? Dont know about caramel goo.
4. Gandi699 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 9100 Amazon green VTR 16v, Inferno RS clio 182

   #4 18th February 2015, 14:33

   caramel coloured goo in the cooling system will be globs of emulsified oil
5. saxytrucker Newbie Joined: Feb 2015 east kent Posts: 11

   #5 18th February 2015, 17:49

   how easy is it to change the head gasket or is there these so called gasket sealers worth a go
6. user_20080 Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.

   #6 18th February 2015, 19:16

   To the op have a look round the back of the engine,there are pipes going into the water jacket.My saxo seeped water in very small amounts so that I didn't notice eventually it became worse and weakened the head gasket.I would get the cooling system pressure tested for leaks at a garage,you'll soon know if there is a coolant leak.
7. saxytrucker Newbie Joined: Feb 2015 east kent Posts: 11

   #7 18th February 2015, 19:26

   thanks for all the help. how much is the pressure test off hand. i will have a look round back tomz. the guys at my work said they thought it was leaking coolant but werent sure as my lorry was parked up in the same spot earlier in the day.
8. user_20080 Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.

   #8 18th February 2015, 19:27

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by saxytrucker how easy is it to change the head gasket or is there these so called gasket sealers worth a go

   Reasonably easy a haynes manual helps,don't touch the gasket sealers unless you intend running the car into the ground or flogging it.
9. Gandi699 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 9100 Amazon green VTR 16v, Inferno RS clio 182

   #9 18th February 2015, 23:24

   Head gasket on an 8v is an easy job providing you can get the head skimmed and have the right tools to torque it back up to spec etc. worth doing yourself one weekend
   
   
   Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
10. saxytrucker Newbie Joined: Feb 2015 east kent Posts: 11

    #10 19th February 2015, 07:28

    Spoken to my mechanic an said its not a big job and as not over heated he thinks it wont need skimming fingers crossed I think lol. I can get tools but still think I might get him to do it
11. Gandi699 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 9100 Amazon green VTR 16v, Inferno RS clio 182

    #11 19th February 2015, 09:10

    to be fair ti probably wouldn't need a skim but a machine shop can give it a once over to make sure the surface is nice and clean. Fit a decent MLS gasket and then you should be good to go, make sure you replace the head bolts
12. saxytrucker Newbie Joined: Feb 2015 east kent Posts: 11

    #12 19th February 2015, 13:05

    What price am I lookin at to have gasket changed
13. Gandi699 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 9100 Amazon green VTR 16v, Inferno RS clio 182

    #13 19th February 2015, 15:59

    depending on the garage and labour rates you'd be looking at I'd say anywhere between 150 and 400 quid at the top end. You can do it at home yourself for under 100 if you have the tools
14. saxytrucker Newbie Joined: Feb 2015 east kent Posts: 11

    #14 19th February 2015, 18:04

    is there anyone on here close to dover who knows what there doing fancy ago
15. Samuel Frequent Poster Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 510 MK2 VTS

    #15 20th February 2015, 15:04

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Gandi699 depending on the garage and labour rates you'd be looking at I'd say anywhere between 150 and 400 quid at the top end. You can do it at home yourself for under 100 if you have the tools

    LOl garage rates 150-400? try 400-600+...
    
    I've had a private job on it for 170 before.
16. Samuel Frequent Poster Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 510 MK2 VTS

    #16 20th February 2015, 15:05

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by saxytrucker is there anyone on here close to dover who knows what there doing fancy ago

    It is not a small job lol
17. Gandi699 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 9100 Amazon green VTR 16v, Inferno RS clio 182

    #17 20th February 2015, 15:09

    people on here who have their own units charge around that figure, you'd have to be pretty mad to pay more than 400 quid on an 8v considering the price of donor lumps and fitment.
    and its not a huge job at all, you can pull the cylinder head off a vtr in under an hour. However, like any head gasket job, it requires you to be methodical, clean and do things properly
18. Samuel Frequent Poster Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 510 MK2 VTS

    #18 20th February 2015, 15:12

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Gandi699 people on here who have their own units charge around that figure, you'd have to be pretty mad to pay more than 400 quid on an 8v considering the price of donor lumps and fitment. and its not a huge job at all, you can pull the cylinder head off a vtr in under an hour. However, like any head gasket job, it requires you to be methodical, clean and do things properly

    Maybe I was thinking 16v
19. Gandi699 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 9100 Amazon green VTR 16v, Inferno RS clio 182

    #19 20th February 2015, 15:15

    16v shouldnt really make much difference, it'll be a bit more difficult to manhandle but the same otherwise. Touch extra time to time up the cams, and if you need to refit the inlet is more time consuming.

    1 user thanked this post: Samuel
20. user_20080 Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.

    #20 21st February 2015, 15:51

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Samuel LOl garage rates 150-400? try 400-600+... I've had a private job on it for 170 before.

    I don't know where you're getting those figures from £350.00 was what i paid.
21. saxytrucker Newbie Joined: Feb 2015 east kent Posts: 11

    #21 22nd February 2015, 08:19

    Well had it confirmed its the head gasket goin but its only a slight leak so leavin rad cap undone a little till next sat to be fixed for £250 with water pump and cambelt included