Technical Yet another head gasket thread...

[Puntobeard]

Hi all,

I know - Yet another head gasket thread....

OK, so my father in law is telling my head gaskets gone, he generally knows what he's talking about, just want a second opinion before I go in for the skimmming etc, so many threads about this, so much conflicting info...

Car: 53 plate Punto mk2b 1.2 8v 57k miles

So, Symptoms:

Mayo in oil cap - not dipstick - read that it may be down to short journeys? Which is all I've been doing - 2 x 8 mile trips every other day.

Small oil leak over rocker cover - this seems to be on every punto??? haha

Car sort of wurr's on idle 800-1000rpm...

No loss of any other fluids, no over heating etc.

Is it worth catching this early and doing it now? I don't want to shell out a load of money if I don't need to.

Many thanks in advance

 

[fingers99]

Compression test. All else is conjecture.

 

[s and b]

get another opinion

 

[Puntobeard]

Thanks for the quick reply's chaps.

I'll look into a compression test.

It's also due a service, is it worth getting it serviced, seeing what they flag up, then doing it myself if it does need doing?

 

[Puntobeard]

I'm now convinced that these issues are just a combo of short journeys and a loose rocker cover.

Which, as far as I can tell, is not big deal? Put it this way, there is never any oil on the floor under the car...

 

[fingers99]

Could well be. Cheapo compression testers on eBay.

 

[Ziggy122]

Short Journeys dont help
oil vapour has moisture in it - hence why long runs help ""boil it off""

But if you dont wipe the gunk out the cap - then it always looks the same

No oil - water - loss
No overheating
Idle sounds fine 800 is warm idle - over 1000 is perfectly normal for a cold start idle or heavy electrical load

8miles isn't really a long run.... i do regular 5mile and tbh the engine is only just warmed up at that point
you never really get rid of all the moisture

Compression test will show a possible HG, but me personally i wouldnt be worried
57k is VERY early for a HG, however if it was mistreated or a fault is present
(thermostat stuck - lazy weak pump etc) then expect HG issues

like me
i'm way way way overdue a belt and pump change, but till either
A - belt snaps
B - i see overheating starting to occour
Im not touching them

partly because punto's are Bastards to coolant bleed

Ziggy

 

[Puntobeard]

Ziggy,

Thanks for the in depth post, much appreciated mate.

I'm also reluctant to touch anything, less it start's a chain reaction of crap going wrong.

 

[Ziggy122]

But not stopping a chain reaction is just as bad


For example a lazy or stuvk open stat will mean excessive fuel and possibility if bore wash = bye bye compression for example

Ziggy

 

[flisko]

But not stopping a chain reaction is just as bad


For example a lazy or stuvk open stat will mean excessive fuel and possibility if bore wash = bye bye compression for example

Ziggy

how long till bore wash occurs?

 

[Ziggy122]

how long till bore wash occurs?

How long is a piece of string?

Ziggy