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[terry paget]

My son Jonny complained his car, 2002 petrol 2.2 manual saloon, was loosing water fast and misfiring. I collected it this morning from Chippenham. Coolant was low by Bath, low coolant light came on at Midsomer Norton, tank empty.
I could see no obvious leak; HBV dry, no puddles beneath car. Car misfires hot, not cold. EML light on, code P0304 misfire on no. 4. I removed the plugs; 1,2,3, look fine; 4 looks wet. I checked compression, all cylinders read about 15.5.
I still suspect failed head gasket, but the compression test puzzles me. What do you think?

[deviator]

It can still pass a compression test and be a HGF. Any rainbow in the coolant? Milky oil on dipstick/cap? Are the footwell carpets dry?

It might be worth popping into a local garage and getting them to sniff test the coolant.

[terry paget]

Thank for quick response deviator. No rainbow on coolant, oil is clean on dipstick. Footwells are dry. Coolant looks the right colour, smells 'normal', odourless.

[terry paget]

Here are the plugs.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/rz311oabz2cpwlb/PLUGS50%25.jpg?dl=0

[deviator]

Is that coolant? It looks more like oil.

[Shallow Al]

Does the coolant system froth up, and does it overpressure. Can feel it by squeezing top hose.
Those were symptoms when my old 2 litre HG went.
It showed no sign of oil/water mixing , just coolant loss, no external leaks and a misfire on number four, but in my case only when cold.
Did the head gasket, very plain where it failed once apart.

[terry paget]

Is that coolant? It looks more like oil.

I agree. It glistens on the central insulator, but is still damp after 2 hours. New pic.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/254w4s1k23b9qge/plugs2.50%25.jpg?dl=0
But if not head gasket, where is all the water going?

[terry paget]

Does the coolant system froth up, and does it overpressure. Can feel it by squeezing top hose.
Those were symptoms when my old 2 litre HG went.
It showed no sign of oil/water mixing , just coolant loss, no external leaks and a misfire on number four, but in my case only when cold.
Did the head gasket, very plain where it failed once apart.

My son did report frothing. When I removed the header tank cap it did seem to be under high pressure.
Perhaps I should put back the plugs and let it idle for an hour, see if the hose pressurises, and if any water gets out anywhere obvious. I can't think fo any reason why I should not.

[tunnie]

Traditionally 2.2 HG failures cause a miss-fire when cold, not hot. Coolant seeps in when the engine cools, starts with water in the bore. Miss-fires and burns it off to then run ok.

The plugs do look covered in oil, how did oil get on them?  Could be cam cover gasket is leaking oil into the plugs, if they were not torqued down right could be getting into the bore?

From photo even top of the plug has oil on it?

[terry paget]

Traditionally 2.2 HG failures cause a miss-fire when cold, not hot. Coolant seeps in when the engine cools, starts with water in the bore. Miss-fires and burns it off to then run ok.

The plugs do look covered in oil, how did oil get on them?  Could be cam cover gasket is leaking oil into the plugs, if they were not torqued down right could be getting into the bore?

From photo even top of the plug has oil on it?

There was no oil in plug holes. I fitted these plugs about a year ago, with some copper ease grease on the threads. I agree there is some oil on no. 4 plug, do not know where it came from.
I would expect misfire on start up, not when hot. I merely report as I observed. Maybe the fault is not head gasket. I am certainly loosing lots of coolant, a tank full in 25 miles. There is no sign of it anywhere!
I will replace the plugs, run it at idle, and watch. I will report back. Thanks to all for advice.

[tunnie]

That is a lot of coolant 

[EMD]

Is that coolant? It looks more like oil.

I agree. It glistens on the central insulator, but is still damp after 2 hours. New pic.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/254w4s1k23b9qge/plugs2.50%25.jpg?dl=0
But if not head gasket, where is all the water going?

Sounds similar to my 2.0 vectra , the coolant was coming out tail pipe .. 

It might be worth popping into a local garage and getting them to sniff test the coolant.

 

[terry paget]

Replaced plugs, topped up header tank, and ran it until low coolant light came on (60 minutes). Moved car, looked for puddles, none to be seen. Footwell carpets still bone dry.
While running I felt top hose, it was rock hard. I am a bit surprised nothing burst, but I suppose the header tank cap blows off at a certain pressure.
I conclude my header gasket is leaking between no. 4 cylinder and a water channel. I hope you all agree. If not, please say so.
Problem now is what to do next.

[Steve B]

Hi terry.Just curious ..What miles are on the clock.& Any idea of antifreeze history 

[terry paget]

I bought the car 29 Aug 2013, mileage 62500. I changed cam belt pulleys water pump and coolant then, using 50/50 GM Dex-Cool.Topped up with the same occasionally, changed HBV June 2014.