possible head gasket???

[lambo7]

over the last week or so I thought I had a water problem ie an air lock, but I went for a long trip today and my car started blowing out white smoke.
now my water is really low and even on tick-over white smoke is coming out of the exhaust.....is that the head-gasket gone..???
Also £££££££ for my 182..??
thanks

 

[alexbleubolt]

yeah probably if your waters gone, best get RAC to come and check it, with their water smelling device. probably about £1000 as you gotta take all the cambelt out and stuff

 

[alexbleubolt]

don't drive it though

 

[lambo7]

also their isn't any mayonnaise stuff anywhere.....???

 

[182joe]

white smoke is a tell tale sign, but no detergent in the oil? seems odd.

you can get headgasket seal and from a friends experience i would definately recommend it

 

[lambo7]

whats a headgasket seal......is it stuff u pour into the water / oil ???
where would I get it..??

 

[182joe]

you pour it into the water start the car and let it get warm, it seals up then.

from what he has said hasnt used a drop of water since. I can ask him for more info for you if you like.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/K-SEAL-COOLAN...ryZ28641QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

obviously it is only temporary but we did his 2-3months ago and its still fine now.

 

[lambo7]

I bought the car 2 1/2 months ago from a garage....do all traders/garage's have to give u 3 months warrenty....???

 

[Henry]

I bought the car 2 1/2 months ago from a garage....do all traders/garage's have to give u 3 months warrenty....???

yes - it's more likely to be termed 'mechanical breakdown insurance' though - you've almost certainly got a claim with HG failure. ring them tomorrow!

that's really sh*tty luck if it is the HG - hope you can sort it out without it costing too much

 

[lambo7]

how do I 100% make sure its the head gasket???

 

[182joe]

get quotes from other garages?

 

[Henry]

sniffer test (as someone has already suggested) would probably be a good starting point - it will test for the presence of combustion gasses in the coolant. could also try a compression test.

have you got oil in the coolant expansion tank or coolant on the oil dipstick?

 

[porki]

if the car has a warranty (or whatever the stealer decides to call it) don't diagnose it yourself just give them a bell, tell them the symptoms and that you want it fixed! that said it does sound very much like a head gasket...

 

[lambo7]

Finally heard back from the garage I bought my car from and they are going to fix my car....
Finally some luck

 

[Henry]

^nice one