hiya <- car dumbass here =)

[Angellita75]

hiya joined this forum to hopefully get sum advice on my car

i have a 1998 fiat punto 60s. when i bought it my uncle said it needs a new gasket, as oil was leaking from the join in the engine
now, is this the head gasket that needs replacing or just a gasket that seals off the 2 parts of the engine?
if its the head gasket then im gonna kill my uncle, as i hear its not a cheap job to get done and i dont have any money to spare.
the car is off road at the moment, i just bought it in preparation for when i pass my test.
it passed its last mot with nothing wrong but advice that windscreen wipers need replacing soon which is no biggy.
any answers would be great thanks

 

[Citizen Smith]

Hi and welcome to FF.

Without actually seeing the car it could be that the cam cover gasket is leaking if its an oil leak (gasket between cylinder head and cam cover).

There could also be an oil leak from the head gasket - is there any overheating / other running faults ?

 

[Angellita75]

hi i wouldnt be able to tell as its off road at the moment. service history says it had a new cambelt put it just before i got it.
it all seemed fine on the test drive though that was only short, my husband did say he thought he saw smoke coming from the vents when he put the heating on but i dont actually think the radiator has any water in, or whether its even connected!
pretty much everything in the car is near enough empty i think, petrol, radiator, oil,and even windscreen wash lol

 

[FDF]

I would take it to a garage you trust and get it serviced, they will then tell you whats wrong and what it will cost to fix.

Welcome to the Forum.

 

[Citizen Smith]

hi i wouldnt be able to tell as its off road at the moment. service history says it had a new cambelt put it just before i got it.
it all seemed fine on the test drive though that was only short, my husband did say he thought he saw smoke coming from the vents when he put the heating on but i dont actually think the radiator has any water in, or whether its even connected!
pretty much everything in the car is near enough empty i think, petrol, radiator, oil,and even windscreen wash lol

It maybe that it is the head gasket and the water is from the radiator is getting into the engine - hence the lack of water in the rad plus smoke coming through the vents.

Without being able to see the car it is not possible to diagnose but doesn't sound good TBH - should be repairable but at what cost i dont know.

 

[Angellita75]

yea i should but cant its SORN atm and im not licensed to drive, really want to avoid taking it to a garage too as id rather not spend out on something if i can get a family member to do it, just need to know the problem first
i think it must just be the cam case gasket or watever, but ill see when we get it all dismantled,
she runs sweet as a nut and still starts first time after being sat there for 4 months lol so hopefully thats a good indication

 

[Angellita75]

i dont think its leaking, as theres nothing in the engine either, and the little oil thats in there is the right composition.
id have to try the heaters myself, as my husband loves nothing more then making problems out of nothing, it was probably just a little dust lol

 

[Angellita75]

ok just been to have a look, water in rad is just above min mark i think and oil in engine is just below min mark. ran the heaters for a minute and no smoke, so just my husband being an asshole over the car.
need to leave it alone now as its running low on petrol and i need it to make it to the station haha