Technical Engine overheating problems

[Jake65]

Hello everyone - first time post so be kind

First off - I am a hopless mechanic and wont be attempting to repair this problem just want your advice as to what it could be, also so I look a little bit like I know what Im talking about when I go to the garage in the attempt not to get ripped off.

Can't seem to upload photos - so here goes

It's the wifes school run car and recently it has started to run very high on the temp gauge and a warning light comes on. Takes about a good 15-25 mins drive to get like this.

Water seems to get low abt every 4-7 days

Also the heater doesnt seem to blow hot air.

The main engine block -top bit that seems to bolt on - has a dam patch running the length of it all along the seam (head gasket?) especially at the corners

Question is

A) What could be wrong
B) How bad / costly is it likely to be

Appreciate any guidance

 

[bredsticz]

Is there white smoke coming from the exhaust when the engine starts to warm up and there then after?
If so looks like head gasket, around the rocker cover is unrelated thats just a bit of an oil leak you have, very common.

If it's head gasket you shouldn't be using the car at all or you will damage the piston rings, cylinder head etc.

Looking around £300 repair for a head gasket

 

[red]

The head gasket separates/seals the compression chamber from water and oil. If it fails, symptoms depend on how badly and where it fails (e.g. between oil and water, between compression and water, between two cylinders, between cylinder and outside world).

Symptoms of failing head gasket, some of which you cite, include (in no particular order and probably not exhaustive):

* Loss of coolant. This can be going into the combustion chamber or into oilways.

* Overheating (obviously due to loss of coolant).

* Bubbles in coolant or level rising when engine revved (run engine from cold to warm/hot with filler cap off to observe).

* White smoke (it's probably steam from coolant in combustion or maybe burnt oil in combustion).

* Heater not working (compressed gasses have replaced water in the system so no hot water in the heater matrix).

* Gurgling noises (associated with air locks in heater matrix pipes).

* Emulsified oil (water gets mixed with oil -it doesn't really mix well and produces a kind of "mayo" that would be evident in the oil filler cap).

* Loss of compression (needs compression tester but is probably the best indicator of trouble).

* Misfiring (when compression gets too low, combustion fails).

To answer your other query about damp patch, we'd need to understand just where it is. There are essentially three parts: the engine block, the cylinder head and the camshaft cover (the camshaft cover is sometimes called a rocker cover because some old cars had rocker shafts under there - Puntos have the camshaft(s) under there). The block is the bottom part and is the main casing of the engine. It is cast iron. The cylinder head sits on the block and is an aluminium alloy. The exhaust system is bolted on to the head and round the back, the spark plugs are screwed into the head. The camshaft cover sits on top of the head and is secured by a few small screws. The seal between the head and the camshaft cover is neoprene rubber and prone to oil leakage. If the damp patch is there, I wouldn't bother unless oil is dripping down the head (and eventually onto your drive). You will have surmised that the cylinder head gasket is between the block and the head. It is a bit involved to renew, hence the big bucks that you will be quoted. It pays to shop around - no need to go to main dealer, any garage or independent mechanic can get the required parts.

red

 

[DaveMcT]

Any good garage can chemically test the coolant for exhaust gases. If there are any the head gasket has failed and it about £300 to repair.

The car should not be used until this is fixed because you will cause more serious damage. It is worth reading the coolant bleeding guide (see button at top of forum page). Its easy enough to make sure all air is bled from the system so at least you can drive it to the garage..

If the cam belt is old you would be wise to replace that at the same time. On 8V engines a failed belt is inconvenient (engine stops!!!) . On 16V engines it causes severe damage.

Get the rocker cover gasket replaced at the same time and if the mileage is high the water pump too. The labour cost for replacing these at the same time as doing the head job is minimal.

 

[Jake65]

Thanks guys - yeah it seems like doom and gloom - £300 ish is a pain in the arse just what we dont need but if it has to be it has to be

Will let you all know how we get on

dont think there is white smoke or any gugling bubbles though