Technical Oil leak - Head Gasket?

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Technical Oil leak - Head Gasket?

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Mar 26, 2009
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Well over the past few days my car has developed an oil leak, nothing major right now, oil level is still easily fine, but im noticing a few spots on the drive, my dad suspects it may be the head gasket on its way out? Im wary this is a very expensive problem, is there anything that can be done to pro-long its life or fix completely? Or is there anything else an oil leak could be, i dont want to blow the HG, i simply dont have the money, but need the car on a daily basis.
 
Head gasket rarely leads to oil leaking out in the form of dripping. It usually goes in between the oil and coolant channels causing cross-contamination, or between the coolant and pistons, causing white exhaust smoke. Leaks on the drive are more likely to be the sump, filter seal and possibly rocker-cover gasket.
 
Ok, hmm. apparently my head gasket is gone/going? aswell because the coolant dissapears while the engine is on and comes back when off. DEFINITELY water coming out the exhaust too, not much smell. ALOT of oil around the engine, starting from rocker cover gasket (replaced aswell) down to the sump, all around engine 360 degrees.

any ideas?

-MO
 
Well over the past few days my car has developed an oil leak, nothing major right now, oil level is still easily fine, but im noticing a few spots on the drive, my dad suspects it may be the head gasket on its way out? Im wary this is a very expensive problem, is there anything that can be done to pro-long its life or fix completely? Or is there anything else an oil leak could be, i dont want to blow the HG, i simply dont have the money, but need the car on a daily basis.
Head gaskets ain't expensive! like £20 tops for a 95' punto :)
 
TBH not really a job I'd want to do myself...although I'm sure I could but its getting the head reskimmed and the rest of the work .....tbh i'd rather part with £250-300 quid to get it done...cos if the do cock it up they have to fix free of charge but if you cock it up you could end up doing more damage for the sake of a couple of hundred.
 
Head gaskets ain't expensive! like £20 tops for a 95' punto :)

But it isn't just £20 really, even if you discount labour. A head gasket isn't done properly unless you have new head bolts, new oil filter, new oil, new coolant and a new timing belt kit. Head re-facing is not really a job for the home mechanic, so that's going to have to be sent off to a specialist too.
 
A new rocker cover gasket will set you back about £8. It will probably take an hour to fit. It's a very simple job to do. (But i'm talking about a 1.2 8v punto. Can't comment on the 16v one...)
If you haven't got one already buy yerself a haynes manual-they are priceless.:)
 
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But it isn't just £20 really, even if you discount labour. A head gasket isn't done properly unless you have new head bolts, new oil filter, new oil, new coolant and a new timing belt kit. Head re-facing is not really a job for the home mechanic, so that's going to have to be sent off to a specialist too.
yeah but most of that a car owner should have knowledge how to do. except timing kit. and head might be in bad cond to be skimmed or may not :p
 
rocker cover is easy just be careful when re tightening the bolts as they tend to brake easily.
 
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