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[Taxi_Driver]

There may have been a thread on this......if so...soz ive missed it and carnt find it.

But its a bit alarming to me that a 2.2 has suffered a HG failure  

Tunnie.....Do you know why? Whats the symptons? Has it been compression tested?

Whats the mileage on your Dads 2.2?

Soz for all the questions.....if there is a thread on it, please just point me in the right direction  

Good luck with it  

[tunnie]

no problem mate:

I suspect old coolant, not sure when it was last changed. Car was dealer serviced, and until recently my dads car was used for business and I was reluctant to touch it in case i break anything! or shear anything!

It has not been compression tested, and the local mechanic could not get the sniffer liquid to change colour, however:

There is a strong smell of petrol in the header tank.

There are no visable leaks of coolant, when i ran the car for 5 mins in the garage, heaters on full, off, ect no leaks.

If the head tank was filled up to the line, and then left. If started 1 hour later it would run rough, say on 3 pots, blip the revs a few times and it would clear.

Coolant seams to go down, once the engine has been off for a while. It seams to be fine when running, i was constantly checking the level when the engine was running.

Switched it off, came back 20 mins later, the level dropped quite a bit.

Miles is 92k

[TheBoy]

It doesn't show many of the symptoms of HG failure. Possible the coolant leak is unrelated. BUT there is a 'rich exhaust' smell from header...

[Markie]

certainly worth compression testing it - decent bit of kit to have and change from £20.....will give an indication of potentially other issues.....

[Craig_R]

Tunnies Dads Car has the Exact same problem i had with mine and mine was the Head Gasket.

If tunnie starts the car in the morning it will misfire for a couple of seconds then clear up, this is caused be water leaking into one of the pots and then being burnt off Its a common fault for the Head Gasket to go if the coolent is left to degrade, I am thinking its pot number one that will be his problem as this is the one that had gone on mine and i was told by a garage this was a common fault.

I went to the garage and said i though my head gasket had gone and he told me my symptoms and he was spot on with the misfiring on start up and then clearing with a couple of revs.

But I did get the header tank checked for exhaust gases with that liquid kit that turns from blue to yellow in the presents of hydocarbons

My Head Gasket Failed at 65,000 as the coolent degraded and my car was not really looked after by it preivous owners

[JamesV6CDX]

The compression tester will be going on it, before anything is taken apart..

[tunnie]

The compression tester will be going on it, before anything is taken apart..

 

[Taxi_Driver]

Defo worth compression testing it first......as TB suggests the water leak maybe unrelated.....coz mine does the same....it leaks water when you turn it off after its been running......doesnt leak when running.
It used to leak this way quite a lot.......but ive found and fixed most of the leaks......but it still does it slightly and i carnt find anymore leaks.......so its either using the coolant or leaking very slightly from somewhere i carnt find......so i just live with it and top it now and then.

But mine before i found the worst of the leaks used to leave a puddle under the car after it had been switched off for a while....i guess you have checked for this?

[Taxi_Driver]

Best case senario i can think of......its got a water leak......plus the coil pack is on its way out.....

Carnt explain the exhaust gas smell from the coolant bottle tho....as TB and you say....but suprised it didnt fail a sniffer test  :-/

Worst case....its the head gasket  

[tunnie]

no puddles of coolant after its been parked.

Most signs point to head gasket, strong petrol smell in the header tank, but i am too suprised it failed the snifer test.

Just had Jaime around complaining why i had not the head off my dads 2.2 yet, simple fact is I am scared!

To big areas: cam belt removal, and second dropping the exhaust.

Its also the fact its my dads car, if it were mine i'd happily get stuck in. But being my dads, i don't like touching it.

[Markie]

no puddles of coolant after its been parked.

Most signs point to head gasket, strong petrol smell in the header tank, but i am too suprised it failed the snifer test.

Just had Jaime around complaining why i had not the head off my dads 2.2 yet, simple fact is I am scared!

To big areas: cam belt removal, and second dropping the exhaust.

Its also the fact its my dads car, if it were mine i'd happily get stuck in. But being my dads, i don't like touching it.

get that head off - theres nothing scarey in the strip down and theres enough expertise local to you and on here to answer any concerns you have.....Go Tunnie Go..........

[JamesV6CDX]

Cambelt and exhaust easy enough.. it's the inlet manifold I'll be swearing it more

We'll do a thorough test/diagnosis before pulling it to bits.

You can get the exhaust bolts soaking in plus gas before I come over..

[tunnie]

no puddles of coolant after its been parked.

Most signs point to head gasket, strong petrol smell in the header tank, but i am too suprised it failed the snifer test.

Just had Jaime around complaining why i had not the head off my dads 2.2 yet, simple fact is I am scared!

To big areas: cam belt removal, and second dropping the exhaust.

Its also the fact its my dads car, if it were mine i'd happily get stuck in. But being my dads, i don't like touching it.

get that head off - theres nothing scarey in the strip down and theres enough expertise local to you and on here to answer any concerns you have.....Go Tunnie Go..........

too scared!  

[tunnie]

Cambelt and exhaust easy enough.. it's the inlet manifold I'll be swearing it more

We'll do a thorough test/diagnosis before pulling it to bits.

You can get the exhaust bolts soaking in plus gas before I come over..

They are the studs i can see on the passenger side?

[JamesV6CDX]

Cambelt and exhaust easy enough.. it's the inlet manifold I'll be swearing it more

We'll do a thorough test/diagnosis before pulling it to bits.

You can get the exhaust bolts soaking in plus gas before I come over..

They are the studs i can see on the passenger side?

Yes, all manifold studs with heatshield off.. also - all the (3?) downpipe to manifold nuts, accessed from underneith..

I'm more familiar with the V6... but we can do this no problems..