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[symes]

My v6 is seriously askin to be scrapped-Have a problem with expansion tank losing water-new tank and HBV not leaking-No water under car BUT oil filler cap gunked up and breather pipes-Even changed oil cooler-but problem still there-So what you think- headgasket seems to be only thing missed out do far.

[Mv8.com]

How gunked exactly?

Is the oil on the dip stick clear with no mayo?

Tried a pressure test?

[symes]

cap is quite bad-dipstick fine-even changed oil/fiter last month

[albitz]

Gunk on filler cap is a result of short journeys,particularily in colder weather.Some oils (castrol apparently) make things worse,while others (GM10/40) help matters to some extent.Its a characteristic of the engine though,and nothing to lose sleep over.
A good blast down a motorway should make it disappear.

[Mv8.com]

cap is quite bad-dipstick fine-even changed oil/fiter last month

Dip stick fine, so if the hg has failed it will be leaking externally. As said mayo in filler neck is normal for long journeys. If you want to be sure, the filler neck can be removed by lifting the tab on the cam cover bolt then twist. The fit the cap to the cam cover directly.

Re the leak, suggest a pressure test with plenum, inlet and wedge removed to reveal the v and the back of the engine. Don't forget the radiator.

It's quite common for coolant leaks to evaporate off, a leak needs to be quite bad before it forms a puddle on the floor.

[symes]

I do 50 miles every day to/from work and in the nornings -no traffic so can cruise at 80mph!! There is a problem thats just doing my head in-the gunk really is heavy-took filler off on wednesday and cleaned it out and this morning its as bad as before and breather pipes need doing again-

[Mv8.com]

Struggling to see how the dip stick shows no signs of mayo or milky ness?

Anyway, pressure test. Check the bores etc. IMO.

[Gaffers]

Cap gunk is normal especially if you have non-GM oil and/or do mostly short journeys .

With a W reg it is quite possible that a coolant pipe somewhere come have a small hole (which have a habit of shutting closed when the coolant cools ) and if it is in an area where there is something hot like an exhaust it could evaporate before it hits the floor.  I have a lot of experience with coolant leaks, if you search for my thread on swapping the heads on goldie you'll see why.

I would do the following:

FIRST: You are looking for leaks with a hot fluid around a very hot engine so gloves and protective equipment are a must.

- Check the coolant/water mix.  This will assist with finding the leak.

- get the engine warm by going on a spirited run to get the coolant pressure high.  Pop the bonnet and see if you can smell coolant/mositure.  If so hen the leak is near something hot.  If this is the case then the following are suspect:

                  - oil cooler plate
                  - coolant bridge or it's pipes
                  - thermostat gasket
                  - coolant transfer pipe (fits in to the thermostat housing)
                  - coolant pipe gasket (at the rear of the engine block)

- If you cannot smell any coolant then you need to get a torch and with the engine running gets eyes, and hands if you can, on all the pipes.  Squeezing them can sometimes make more come out which will help you id the leak.  This will involve getting all around the car from above and below so ramps may be necessary. 

- If you are confident there are no leaks in the pipes then we are in cyl head territory.  A pressure test will not always give you the result or all the answers as many sides of the head are not visible, you may just get 'there is a leak' rather than 'this is where the leak is' but it would help you further diagnose the problem.

My heads were shot but the fire rings were fully intact.  This was caused by the previous owner driving with a blown oil cooler (short distances, topping up the coolant as he went)  this corroded the HGs and blocked the cooling passages in the heads.

I hope this helps

[symes]

Ah ha so h/gasket is likely problem then-oh cow-thats a nightmare job Guffer -good job got the tools eh 

[Gaffers]

Ah ha so h/gasket is likely problem then-oh cow-thats a nightmare job Guffer -good job got the tools eh 

If the coolant hasn't been neglected then it is possible but unlikely.  You can do the HGs easily within a weekend, or if you start early you can have it done in a (long) day.  Although if you havent done a HG job before then I would suggest taking your time.   

BTW absolutely no requirement to skim the heads but they must be absolutely spotless.  A spin in the dishwasher helps but if your missus complains like mine does then wait until she goes out for a couple of hours

[TheBoy]

This your LPG one?

Wonder if it could be weeping in the vapouriser, and throughing a small amount of coolant out of the exhaust?

I guess the easy check is to run it around on petrol for a week (), and see if coolant level drop is less dramatic...

[Gaffers]

That would surely be affecting the lpg quite considerably....at the very least you would get more moisture out through the exhaust.

Would it show on the live data on the lappy?

[TheBoy]

That would surely be affecting the lpg quite considerably....at the very least you would get more moisture out through the exhaust.

Would it show on the live data on the lappy?

I am thinking of a weep, not several gallons a minute

Just trying to think where else it could be going...

[symes]

If you remember TB i've got new vapourisor-about a month old-I thought that too-ran no lpg  with the water pipes diconected from vap unit for 4days no change    Put it into workshop with a large sheet of cardboard under it-if coolant coming out anywhere that should help me find out - 

[symes]

Found it    by removing top inlet+joining pipes from throttle bodies +pressure test --It was thermostat housing to pipe seal !!  evapourating due to heat from engine-so now done am a happy bunny again-so now remember if you get coolant loss and cant see were-check thermostat housing-Many thanks to all