Hi guys,

My head gasket is leaking oil for the past 7500 miles / 12000 km. In the last 2 months it is more intense but still not that much to worry about.

Coolant level is absolutely fine, there aren't bubbles in the radiator or coolant overflow tank, there isn't a white smoke nor the pipes are getting hard. Maybe a very slight misfire at idle but the cause can be something else.

I guess the bolts aren't properly tightened up in the factory when it is manufactured because the car has only 61000 miles / 98000 km. As far as I know it hasn't overheated till now. Engine is 1.1 54 hp - 2006.

I want to hear your advices before going to change it. Is there any oil additive that can cure this problem? Is it safe to continue driving like this? What other parts should I change along with the head gasket?

are you sure its the headgasket and not the valve cover gasket which is prone to fail?

Ricardo Silva said:

are you sure its the headgasket and not the valve cover gasket which is prone to fail?

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Yes because oil is leaking between engine head and block. Valve cover gasket is dry.

It might be worth re-torqueing the head bolts to factory spec.
Do this by undoing 1/4 to 1/2 a turn then torque down in the correct order which maybe enough to seal the external oil leak.

photo would help

09 johno said:

It might be worth re-torqueing the head bolts to factory spec.
Do this by undoing 1/4 to 1/2 a turn then torque down in the correct order which maybe enough to seal the external oil leak.

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Do I need to remove something in order to re-tortque the head bolts or it is a straight-forward job?

koalar said:

photo would help

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The whole engine block is covered in oil which I can't take a photo of it right now.

Here are other pics.

how much oil are you loosing. doesn't look to much in the photos. mine always looses a bit more in winter for some strange reason.


That end of my engine always looks like that as I can't be bothered to get a funnel and spill a free drops when topping up

almost certainly isn't the head gasket.

Hi

Its probably the oil filler cap getting hard and the oil seal at the other end where the casing for the coil packs are.

How old is the oil in the car, when was the cam belt last changed and when did the water pump last get changed.

Tim

The whole engine block is covered in oil which I can't take a photo of it right now.

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Did anyone read what he said?

Stavros2 said:

Did anyone read what he said?

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yes

but the post was edited with the photos added later.

koalar said:

how much oil are you loosing. doesn't look to much in the photos. mine always looses a bit more in winter for some strange reason.


That end of my engine always looks like that as I can't be bothered to get a funnel and spill a free drops when topping up

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I lose around 200-300 grams on every 3000 miles. It's not much. For me it isn't using more in the winter. Oil is 10w40 Selenia.

Stavros2 said:

Did anyone read what he said?

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Yes it is covered in oil and post hasn't been edited for that statement.

timmycm850 said:

Hi

Its probably the oil filler cap getting hard and the oil seal at the other end where the casing for the coil packs are.

How old is the oil in the car, when was the cam belt last changed and when did the water pump last get changed.

Tim

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Oil is 3 months old. Cam belt and water pump are 2 months old.

100 grams/ml per 1000 km is to be expected


so at 4828.032 km to 300 grams isn't overly excessive


compared to other vehicles I have own that don't use any between oil changes the panda is quite thirsty


10/40 is fine.


1 drop a second is something like 2.5L an hour so the roughly 100 hours to loose 300 grams very small.


much more likely to be a leaking seal than the head gasket. Needs a Good clean. Then run the engine to see where its coming from. Around the dipstick and the pipe under the air filter are common. As is the crankcase.


Unless your having blue smoke behind you

koalar said:

100 grams/ml per 1000 km is to be expected


so at 4828.032 km to 300 grams isn't overly excessive


compared to other vehicles I have own that don't use any between oil changes the panda is quite thirsty


10/40 is fine.


1 drop a second is something like 2.5L an hour so the roughly 100 hours to loose 300 grams very small.


much more likely to be a leaking seal than the head gasket. Needs a Good clean. Then run the engine to see where its coming from. Around the dipstick and the pipe under the air filter are common. As is the crankcase.


Unless your having blue smoke behind you

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Actually it wasn't using these 300 grams before the leakage. I don't believe I have a blue smoke.

Gonna clean the engine and see where it is coming from. How it is possible around the dipstick ring? It seems unclear to me.

you will need to clean then observe.


oil spreads everywhere when driving.


look like its been there for some time in the photo?



it will be one or more of these. if I was a betting man I would look at the pipe first

Wasgehabendas said:

How it is possible around the dipstick ring? It seems unclear to me.

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It will most likely be spillage from filling the oil. But you can test it by tying a rag around the dip stick to see if oil is getting blown up the tube.

DaveMcT said:

It will most likely be spillage from filling the oil. But you can test it by tying a rag around the dipstick to see if oil is getting blown up the tube.

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I don't think it is blowing up the dipstick tube, normally that indicates back pressure = piston rings knackered
Most likely a drip/spill from somewhere else.