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[TheBoy]

My 1.6 Rover 25 has done 62k, HG (touch wood) is OK, but not bored out as much as 1.8, so probably more gasket material...

[Markie]

1.8 and 1.4 seems to be worse. 1.6 seems to be a bit better..

a few gasket changes around 2000 to reduce the issue and then again when the zr came in - what year is yours Jamie?

Having said that i had a 97000 mile vi with no hgf. You pays your money...takes your chances

[tunnie]

I am also looking at a car thats descibed as:

"1 CYLINDER HEAD GASKET HAS BLOWN"

It goes on to say a garage quoted £400, could this be a oil cooler problem?

Its plod estate 130k miles

[Markie]

possible? probable! hgf on a v6 omega is as rare

[tunnie]

possible? probable! hgf on a v6 omega is as rare

Hummmm very interesting, being an plod one it would have been maintained well, oil changes ect... so quite probable its oil cooler! Well thats another possible  

With the above description of the failer, it could do what MarksDTM said to drive it back?

What do you do exactly, fill up the coolant system (to the brim?) with coolant, leave the cap off then as it uses coolant on the drive back just keep filling it up with water?

[TheBoy]

1.8 and 1.4 seems to be worse. 1.6 seems to be a bit better..

a few gasket changes around 2000 to reduce the issue and then again when the zr came in - what year is yours Jamie?

Having said that i had a 97000 mile vi with no hgf. You pays your money...takes your chances

2000, built Feb 2000 (not that I had access to such stats  )

[TheBoy]

Hummmm very interesting, being an plod one it would have been maintained well, oil changes ect... so quite probable its oil cooler! Well thats another possible  

With the above description of the failer, it could do what MarksDTM said to drive it back?

What do you do exactly, fill up the coolant system (to the brim?) with coolant, leave the cap off then as it uses coolant on the drive back just keep filling it up with water?

Driving on a duff oil cooler will require extensive flushing of cooling system afterwards...

[Admin]

Clarification.

Head gasket failure. VERY rare on the V6. If it does happpen, it is most likely down to using pure water in the cooling system for a damn long time and driving the car very hard.
As Mark says. Remove cap to depressurise system and you can drive a suprisingly long way (gently!) Water mixes with oil causing creamy mayo in filler cap AND on the dipstick.
Lubriaction properties of the oil are compromised, but not a concern unless driving long distances!

Oil cooler failure. Much more common, especially on pre 1998 cars. Post 1998 had a much better stainless steel cooler.
When this goes, the coolant rapidly turn from water, to brown goo, which block the radiator and the coolant pipes, resulting in a car that overheats quickly...and will cause HG failure if driven for any length of time that way!  

Bear this in mind when considering...

[Elite Pete]

Just part exchanged the daughters MGF (Multiple Gasket Failures ) because the head gasket had gone for the second time

[tunnie]

Clarification.

Head gasket failure. VERY rare on the V6. If it does happpen, it is most likely down to using pure water in the cooling system for a damn long time and driving the car very hard.
As Mark says. Remove cap to depressurise system and you can drive a suprisingly long way (gently!) Water mixes with oil causing creamy mayo in filler cap AND on the dipstick.
Lubriaction properties of the oil are compromised, but not a concern unless driving long distances!

Oil cooler failure. Much more common, especially on pre 1998 cars. Post 1998 had a much better stainless steel cooler.
When this goes, the coolant rapidly turn from water, to brown goo, which block the radiator and the coolant pipes, resulting in a car that overheats quickly...and will cause HG failure if driven for any length of time that way!  

Bear this in mind when considering...

To Clarify again..

So if the HG has gone you can drive it from the seller back home, just add lots of coolant?

But if its the Oil Cooler which has gone, which is going to be much more likely the coolant tank will be full of brown goo, being to thick to cool the   engine, and cannot be driven very far?

I have seen some cars which are about 150 miles away from me with a HG failier (prob oil cooler from description) have it low-loaded here would be very expensive  

[Markie]

Clarification.

Head gasket failure. VERY rare on the V6. If it does happpen, it is most likely down to using pure water in the cooling system for a damn long time and driving the car very hard.
As Mark says. Remove cap to depressurise system and you can drive a suprisingly long way (gently!) Water mixes with oil causing creamy mayo in filler cap AND on the dipstick.
Lubriaction properties of the oil are compromised, but not a concern unless driving long distances!

Oil cooler failure. Much more common, especially on pre 1998 cars. Post 1998 had a much better stainless steel cooler.
When this goes, the coolant rapidly turn from water, to brown goo, which block the radiator and the coolant pipes, resulting in a car that overheats quickly...and will cause HG failure if driven for any length of time that way!  

Bear this in mind when considering...

To Clarify again..

So if the HG has gone you can drive it from the seller back home, just add lots of coolant?

But if its the Oil Cooler which has gone, which is going to be much more likely the coolant tank will be full of brown goo, being to thick to cool the   engine, and cannot be driven very far?

I have seen some cars which are about 150 miles away from me with a HG failier (prob oil cooler from description) have it low-loaded here would be very expensive  

To clarify.....hee hee

Drive with HGF - carefully yes, lots of spare coolant in bottles!

Drive with Oil Cooler failure - not recommended.

Thats from my experience anyway......really needs accurate diagnosis of problem first  

[tunnie]

do you have to use propper coolant bottles (red or blue) or can you get away with just water?

Say on a 100 mile run back home after buying the car?

[TheBoy]

water should be ok for that short distance, but change it once you get home rather than leave it standing dor days/weeks whilst you fix it...

[tunnie]

water should be ok for that short distance, but change it once you get home rather than leave it standing dor days/weeks whilst you fix it...

Sounds good, seen a few examples on eBay which describe the "creamy" stuff under the oil filler cap, i assume its also a differnt colour to normal?

What is the replacement costs for a HG on a V6?

Also if the oil cooler is gone with the brown goo in the coolant tank, what if you did a coolant flush when picking up the car? Flush the system with a hose and put some fresh coolant in, i know it won't last very long.. but again maybe the 100 miles back home?