Need some advice! 1.2 coolant and engine oil being used up quite quickly.

[Mister_G]

Hi Guys,

Bit of background first...

I bought a 51 plate 1.2 Clio about 9 months ago, it's got high mileage but the idea was to run it until it died! It's a stop gap really...

Anyway, it's approaching 140k mils, and the clutch is beginning to slip. Had a quote from a local specialist of £380. Whilst I'm not worried about paying this, I am concerned about the following points:

The coolant seems to drain from Max to Min at least every 4 - 5 weeks, which in my opinion is far to often(?).

The engine oil level also seems to need topping up too frequently too. Last time I checked it about 3 / 4 weeks ago it was on the 'full' notch. After checking it today it's between the full and low markers on the dipstick.

Do these symptoms indicate any potential serious issue? I don't mind replacing the clutch, but a bill any higher than that means it's pointless for me to do so because of what I paid for the car. I don't want to replace the clutch and then find in a months time that the head gaskets going or something...



Thoughts?

 

[GrahamS]

is there mayo on the filler cap. Coolant is a sealed system so shouldn't leak out. If you can't see a leak then it may be the head gasket.

Do your own investigation using this http://www.theworkshopwarehouse.co.uk/ring-automotive-coolant-systems-dye.html

Oil could be a number of things. Is there a leak on the bottom or is there blue smoke from the back(piston rings, valve guide etc).

I'd probably just chuck a new engine in if it's anything more than a sump gasket as it would be cheaper.

Also, do the clutch yourself. I did my first one by just being methodical. It's nowhere near as bad as it is daunting.

If you changed the engine (1 days work yourself) then doing the clutch at the same time would add about half an hour to the job.

 

[Mister_G]

Hi,

Thanks for the reply. The oil cap is a little gunky, but it's a brown gunk rather than white. Also appears to be no residue in coolant reservoir. No black/blue smoke, occasional white smoke (primarily when cold, but not always).

The issue I have with doing work my self is that I need my car for work 6 days a week, so it's pretty hard to find the time! Plus I'm doing a distance learning degree so evenings and Sundays are out of the question.

Thank you for the link, I shall have a mooch around on there.

Unfortuantely, I was thinking head gasket...

 

[GrahamS]

I do exactly the same! Swap degree for a few a levels in a year. Work at 7 am, home and then finish at nine and in the garage until 1 if something needs to be done I AM going to burn out soon.

I also was thinking head gasket but didn't want to put an initial leading post.

In my old lupo the oil level used to go down frequently. I put some good oil in and it was fine after. I'd give that a go first as and oil change will only take you half an hour. I'd also leave the clutch if it's just slipping a bit unless it's completely undriveable.

 

[Mister_G]

Nightmare isn't it?! lol

Clutch isn't so bad yet, but I'd rather have nipped it in the bud. If it does turn out to need a head gasket too, I'll probably just drive it to death and not fix either.

 

[EmirK0]

Not sure on the other problems, but coolant could be due to the thermostat leaking (quite common on 1.2s) might be worth having a look at that. Took my car to Mick a while back and noticed that rather than replace the thermostat someone had just sealed it! Although fingers crossed its not leaked yet!

 

[Mister_G]

Thanks mate. I'll look at that too!

 

[Ryanph1rs]

Had similar issues on the mrs audi a3... we found it to be the head gasket was gone so it was over heating the engine that much its was causing the aluminium to expand and allowing oil past the piston rings into the engine thus burning a liter of oil in 190miles! the coolant never went down though and it never physically overheated and boiled... we flogged it in the end to a dodgey garage....

 

[Mister_G]

Fixed it: