Renault Clio 0.9 - Head gasket questions

[Hxrry]

Question for the clio boffins..

We have a 2013 Renault Clio 0.9 TCE 90 in our workshop with major water issues, the top of the gearbox is covered in anti-freeze and the level is dropping fast. Regardless to this, the owner of the car has driven the car regardless of the issues and cooked the headgasket.

Autodata is quoting 11 hours work, and states the gearbox needs to be removed. This seems absolutely bonkers to us, and we're wondering if anyone has done a similar job?

Thanks,
Harry

 

[Djw John]

Can't help but it's not a red one with the reg staring SL63 is it?

 

[Hxrry]

Can't help but it's not a red one with the reg staring SL63 is it?

No buddy a 13 plate in grey

 

[Djw John]

Not my mums that got traded in with a mystery water disappearing into thin air issue then!

 

[JamesBryan]

No idea, but that sounds absolutely mental that you'd have to remove the box to take the head off 🤨

Guessing it was leaking from the thermostat housing, with the coolant being all over the top of the box?

 

[Daniel]

@lemonnobby will know.

 

[lemonnobby]

Deffo head gasket gone they seem quite hard going done lots of coolant outlets over the years.
Never had a head off one but not sure why would need to remove gearbox.
You sure your not on about the upper sump?

 

[Hxrry]

Deffo head gasket gone they seem quite hard going done lots of coolant outlets over the years.
Never had a head off one but not sure why would need to remove gearbox.
You sure your not on about the upper sump?

This is part of the list of things to remove, what a headache

 

[Martin_172]

Sure it's not the thermostat housing cracked above the gearbox, I used to do about 5 a week! Usually people continue to drive them with no water and then toast the head gasket

 

[Hxrry]

Sure it's not the thermostat housing cracked above the gearbox, I used to do about 5 a week! Usually people continue to drive them with no water and then toast the head gasket

Sounds like the jobby mate, but this one is definitely cooked. The garage that have bought the car to sell on are swiftly sending it to auction now!