Technical Head Gaskets???

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Technical Head Gaskets???

Earnestly Hemingway

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Nov 6, 2008
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Location
West sussex
On my way home from work yesterday the engine sounded a bit rickety (1999 T reg SX), and on my way to the supermarket it was rather hot and the oil light was on. I topped up the coolant, which solved the temperature problem, but the oil light stayed on. Left it to settle in the car park, but on the way home I thought it was going to splutter out and die, and I was experiencing power loss.

It has been quite thirsty on the coolant recently, and my oil level is fine (still on max). It does NOT like going uphill and seems like its firing, a problem I thought I'd solved when I replaced the spark plugs last week.

The head gaskets were supposedly done three months ago (previous owner), but could this be the problem? Other things that were said to have been done have not.:mad:
 
Hi mate and WELCOME TO THE FORUM!!!

If your loosing coolant and you cant see any visable leaks around the coolant pipework/ radiator/ water pump and heater matrix, the its quite likely that your head gasket may be at fault. A quick sniff test or compression test at a garage will confirm this.

I would avoid driving the car with the oil light on. If your oil level is fine, then its quite possible that the pump may have gone, meaning that the oil pressure is too low or non existent.

The mis-firing would also be related to a dead head gasket.

Hope that helps,
Alan
 
Hello and thanks to the both of you :)

There is a fair bit of smoke coming out the exhaust. Its being driven to the garage tonight so they can have a look, its only half a mile away, so I hope it gets there!

I'm trying to get the head gasket invoice off the previous owner, as the cam belt and water pump were supposed to have been done at the same time. The cam belt was done, but fitted with the incorrect belt, and I had to get the bearing done as it was very brittle, so by my reconing it was a cowboy job!
 
Surely you're better off spending that amount on some tools and the parts, and a Haynes manual? At least you'll still have the tools and the manual for next time something goes wrong. What will you have after you've paid them to do the job?
 
Problem with that is its just the HG, I'd personally use a full gasket set and head bolts to avoid leaks reusing the old gaskets. You could give it a go but if you have a leak and have to buy the gaskets seperatly, it ends up costing more than a full gasket set. Plus its just good to know all the gaskets have been renewed recently :)
 
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Went to the garage after work yesterday, when it was supposed to be ready. The mechanic said it was all fine, sounded good, drove smoothly, except for one tiny problem....no oil pressure. The pump was fine, He thinks a little bit of salve managed to work its way into a hole when it was welded back together :rolleyes:

He also said the thermostat was smashed up, although it appeared to be working the night before i took it in, as the temperature gauge told me it was overheating. Does that sound suspicious...?
 
Turns out no work had ever been done on the car. There was no oil pressure cos the oil was so old it had started to solidify and blocked up the filter! It looked like lumps of black butter...:eek:

The mechanics working on it were giving me dirty looks and I had to explain many times that I'd only just bought the car and all this work was originally supposed to have been done! I still felt absolutely rotten that something so bad could have eminated from my car. Next time I buy a car from a private sale I'm taking the engine apart and having a proper look...:mad:
 
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