Technical mk1 car oil change and checks

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Technical mk1 car oil change and checks

mibix

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Hi There. I'm new to the forum and have just purchased a mk1 55s punto. Everything is mint except when I bought it, it nearly overheated driving home - the rad was basically empty which makes me think the previous owner maybe hasn't looked after the engine very well. I have filled it up with water and a bit of antifreeze and there are no leaks of cracks in the hosing.

Also, on checking the oil, there didn't seem to be any on the dipstick at all. I put in near-enough a litre, let it settle, and checked again and it looks either still empty or diluted (there was a watery-oily smear 1/2" up the dipstick). I'm new to car maintanence and wondered if an oil and radiator fluid change would be benificial. I have a haynes manual and it looks within my capabities. if I were to change the oil, do I fill it up with trial and error, and keep checking the level, or do I fill it to the maximum volume as stated in Haynes?

Everything else seems good, except a knocking (which I presume is the exhaust) that I will investigate after the snow melts!!

Is there any other checks I should be doing? Sorry, again, I'm not used to doing maintenence properly, I botched my exhaust system back on with wire on my last car (and other botches you don't even want to hear!) and I'm wanting to look after this one!!

Thanks in advance, Adam
 
Hello mate and WELCOME TO THE FORUM!! :wave:

I suggest having a sniff test performed by a garage, as it sounds to me like you may have head gasket failure. Oil with water/coolant in it - - - and loss of coolant - - classic symptoms of it.

When changing the oil, you keep checking the dipstick untill it reaches the max mark, as if you go by the exact quantity in the manual you will more than likely overfill it as not every drop of old oil comes out of the engine when you remove the old stuff.

Judging by the things you have already mentioned, i would suggest a good going over of the car, as it doesn't sound like its been maintained properly.

Check all suspension components,
Steering components
Brake disks/pads/shoes/drums and replace the brake fluid.
Cambelt - when was it last changed?
I would flush the cooling sytem and the re-fill it with the correct mixture of coolant/water (after havinmg the sniff test done to confirm if you have HG faiulure or not)
Engine Oil and filter - may be worth running some engine flush through whilst doing this too if the oil hasnt been changed for a long time.
Gearbox oil - check the level, top up/replace if necessary.
Tyres -- Condition and pressures


Hope that helps,
Alan
 
Hi and thanks for the welcome and quick answer. You'll probz be hearing a lot off me (questionwise for you gurus!!! :worship:)

Don't think it is the head gasket (although i can't rule it out). I remember it was on the way out on my previous car and oil started leaking about the engine. There doesn't seem to be oil leak but better get it checked n be safe than sorry :).

Do you mean the mechanic can actually 'sniff' the problem out? that's a pretty tuned nose! When you say engine flush do you mean the oil filter or the whole engine? Do I do this whilst I change the oil from the sump, and are there any guides?

Probobly a daft question but is the cambelt the fan belt with a different name? There is a belt just to the left of the engine block - is that it? Like I said I'm sort of new and want to get better - I've just changed wiper arms (coz the old on'e were rusty) n that's about it so far...

Last question, i want to give the whole engine a clean whilst i do the car. Is it safe to power wash the inside or indeed get it wet by hand? Shall be giving my car a good going over this weekend. Checks n wash n check for leaks n stuff.

Cheers, Adam
 
Hi and thanks for the welcome and quick answer. You'll probz be hearing a lot off me (questionwise for you gurus!!! :worship:)

Don't think it is the head gasket (although i can't rule it out). I remember it was on the way out on my previous car and oil started leaking about the engine. There doesn't seem to be oil leak but better get it checked n be safe than sorry :). Oil doesnt have to be leaking out for a Head Gasket fail, that could be a rocker cover gasket fail.
Do you mean the mechanic can actually 'sniff' the problem out? that's a pretty tuned nose! No a mechanic would use equipment to detect combustion by-products in the coolant.
When you say engine flush do you mean the oil filter or the whole engine? Do I do this whilst I change the oil from the sump, and are there any guides?
Remove old oil, put in flushing oil, follow instructions on the can, drain and refill with a new filter and fresh correct grade oil.
Probobly a daft question but is the cambelt the fan belt with a different name? There is a belt just to the left of the engine block - is that it? No, the cambelt is under a plastic cover, you are seeing the aux drive belt, wise to change that too, along with the water pump if you change the cam-belt.Like I said I'm sort of new and want to get better - I've just changed wiper arms (coz the old on'e were rusty) n that's about it so far...

Last question, i want to give the whole engine a clean whilst i do the car. Is it safe to power wash the inside or indeed get it wet by hand? Shall be giving my car a good going over this weekend. Checks n wash n check for leaks n stuff. Be very very careful if you do, dont just blast away with a jetwash wand. Cover up / protect all electrical connectors if you must do it. By hand is the best way, less risk!
Cheers, Adam

See above in blue font.
 
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