Okay after my experience of the head gasket on the Punto giving up the ghost twice I thought a small guide on what to look for when your head gasket is on its way out! Obviously some of the symptoms could be caused by something else but generally these are what I have experienced, starting from early signs through the headgasket actually going. Obviously damage can be done to the engine if it overheats too much before the Head Gasket gives way, so if you experience all of the symptoms within a section (after the early symptoms which could just be an airlock) then get a garage to pressure test or sniff test your car! Okay here goes:
Early Symptoms
*Cold air from blowers when stationary
*hot air only when driving at speed
*engine temperature gauge rising quicker than it does normally to where the fan kicks in
Looking a little more serious
*Juddering when cold on accelerating after a change of gear
*windows misting up (if they dont usually) due to coolant coming throw the blowers
*strong smell coming from the blowers
*After bleeding the coolant system, EXTREME heat from the blowers inside the car
Best get it to a garage pronto
*more condensation/smoke from the exhaust than normal
*mayonnaise under the filler cap
Games a bogey!
*Cold air from blowers even when driving at speed
*Engine temperature rising quickly and above where the fan will kick in, even up to max level
*Large amount of smoke and oil from the exhaust
*Juddering from the car even when warm and whilst being in gear
*on trying to start the car, it wont turn over because water has entered one of the chambers
You now know you have a blown head gasket! Obviously all of these will happen over time.
The first three points are also a sign of there simply being an airlock in your coolant system which is easily sorted, taking a maximum of 10 minutes if you want to flush the coolant system as well. If anyone wants I will put together a guide on how to bleed/flush the coolant system!
Hope this helps someone!
Early Symptoms
*Cold air from blowers when stationary
*hot air only when driving at speed
*engine temperature gauge rising quicker than it does normally to where the fan kicks in
Looking a little more serious
*Juddering when cold on accelerating after a change of gear
*windows misting up (if they dont usually) due to coolant coming throw the blowers
*strong smell coming from the blowers
*After bleeding the coolant system, EXTREME heat from the blowers inside the car
Best get it to a garage pronto
*more condensation/smoke from the exhaust than normal
*mayonnaise under the filler cap
Games a bogey!
*Cold air from blowers even when driving at speed
*Engine temperature rising quickly and above where the fan will kick in, even up to max level
*Large amount of smoke and oil from the exhaust
*Juddering from the car even when warm and whilst being in gear
*on trying to start the car, it wont turn over because water has entered one of the chambers
You now know you have a blown head gasket! Obviously all of these will happen over time.
The first three points are also a sign of there simply being an airlock in your coolant system which is easily sorted, taking a maximum of 10 minutes if you want to flush the coolant system as well. If anyone wants I will put together a guide on how to bleed/flush the coolant system!
Hope this helps someone!
