Foam in the coolant?

[Sami]

Hmm it gets worse, loosing coolant plus I looked earlier seems to be some sort of white foam in the expansion tank? No mayo in caps or dipstick etc what could this be?

 

[donsrno1]

someone hasn't put washing up liquid in the coolant rather than the windscreen washers??? Unliely, but you never know, lol.

 

[jamesy]

you sure its not jank from the cooling system try flushing it out then refilling

 

[Sami]

Thing is i flushed it not so long ago :S and its over-heating loads and im loosing coolant like a b**ch!

 

[cliokiz]

Common signs of head gasket failure aren't they?

 

[MRBILLYUK]

Thing is i flushed it not so long ago :S and its over-heating loads and im loosing coolant like a b*tch!

If its over heating and your loosing coolant then its got to be going somewhere . Like cliokiz says , signs of head gasket failure mate

If it was just overheating and no loss of coolant i would say it was an air lock , but tbh it does sound worse than that .

 

[cliokiz]

Check your thermostat is working correctly and check your rad fan is working correctly.

Check for bubbles in the header tank while the engine is running without the cap on.

Feel all the coolant pipes to make sure they're all hot and also make sure they don't feel crunchy.

There's also a bleed valve at the top left of your radiator, try bleeding the system for air.

Look down the back of the engine to see if you can see coolant stains.

 

[Sami]

Took the thermostat out a lil while ago and cleaned it so I think its working, fan seems to be ok does cut in a little late though?

Engine has lots of coolant stains due to previous leaks so can't really tell but I'll check for new ones, as for radiator bleed errr i snapped off the screw a while back leaving the thread in, so had to put a form of hardening putty over it, which defo isn't leaking but I bled the system via pumping one of the hoses with the cap off etc, isn't that enough?

 

[clarkiev6]

sounds like head gasket i'm afraid.

get a friendly garage to check it for you.
i am in devon www.carlton-exmouth.com
or if you are portsmouth way ask mike at rentech.

 

[Dan@SJM]

Or if your nearer somerset, i specialise in the clio 16v.

 

[Sami]

Im in Bristol so you guys aren't too far I don't think? How much would I be looking at for a check on the head gasket? Don't mind travelling a bit more distance so I can be sure whats wrong with it!

 

[Sami]

Coolant bubbling and exhaust fumes feel bit damp... bugger.

How much for headgasket change?

 

[BenR]

Renatec Ltd
Kings Rd, Brislington, Bristol, Avon BS4 3HH
Tel: 0117 977 7789

Best people to use in bristol for rens.

Near the city motors renault.

 

[dannyboy]

i need the head gasket changing on mine, who's best in south london neck of the woods??

 

[BenR]

no idea, never lived there sorry.

 

[Dan@SJM]

Well im in bridgwater, i charge £280 inc parts(headgasket, cambelt, head bolts)

 

[Ben j]

no idea, never lived there sorry.

wow somehwere u havnt lived!



def sounds like head gasket too. get a big cheque book and get it fixed asap

 

[cliokiz]

Dan is offering a good price there, i'd go with him.

Valvers are a real b*tch to work on and most garages will charge you the earth to have that done. I was quoted around £500 including parts.

 

[Sami]

gonna have to save some dosh and get it done then How long will it last? Will it suddenly just blow or :S whats gonna happen?

 

[Dan@SJM]

will last ages! I'll check the trueness of the head, if its ok then it'll be just like new and wont need replacing for another 80k.

 

[Sami]

Hmm doesn't sound too bad, obv loosing a lot of coolant though and its overheating like buggery! Whats the 'trueness' of the head mean? Thanks.

 

[Dan@SJM]

basically in bad cases of headgasket failures, they can get so hot it warps the head.

 

[The Fatty]

when you ask how long will it last do you mean before the works done or after? i dont see that lastig 80k b4 the works done tbh.

 

[Dan@SJM]

i was saying it'll last atleast 80k after the works done.

 

[Sami]

Yeah sorry I meant before its changed... at the moment it doesn't seem too bad but how long till it completely fails and what will happen etc

 

[Dan@SJM]

I wouldnt drive it too long tbh. especially with how much water its using.

 

[TomS]

Clarkie will sort it for you sami

don't go anywhere else chap!

 

[Dan@SJM]

Ahem!?

 

[Sami]

Had the top of the head off earlier, oil doesn't look like its had any water contamination? Took some pics maybe some could confirm, or can you not tell?

Pics are pretty big so click and zoom in!

 

[Dan@SJM]

Water doesnt always get in the oil when a headgasket fails. hence yours looking good as its gone betweenthe cylinder and the water jacket.

 

[Joe@ShedMotorsport]

Whether there are signs of the HG failing showing up in the oil depends on how the HG has failed. As there is no water/oil contamination its seems as though the gasket has failed between the cylinder bores and waterways, hence no oil contamination. Is there any white smoke out the back?

 

[Joe@ShedMotorsport]

beat me to it

 

[Sami]

No white smoke and I topped the coolant up sunday before going for a longish drive and went to work monday and today and the coolant hasn't gone down at all? :S

 

[Liam-]

I just found this thread, and i have the same problem on my 8v rsi. Did a coolant change last week, filled to max mark on header tank, then drove round a bit and all was fine, left it standing for about 2 hours while i was inside, and there was a patch of coolant on the floor. So i checked today and no signs of leaking, topped up header tank with water and did the same, this time there is no puddle on the floor and the header tank is still full. Have no idea whats going on as im new to cars

Hope someone can help, Thanks Liam-

(sorry for stealing thread)