Head gasket? **PICS**

[Jules]

Over the last few weeks my GSi has been acting strange with how it drives.
Basically when you'd pull away from standstill for the first few seconds (Until the revs got up) it's run lumpy and sound like it was missing or running on 3 (But not as bad as actuallt running on 3), this slowly got worse, so yesterday I had a look at the spark plugs (Seemed OK), HT leads (Seemed OK) & dizzy cap (Terminals were a bit cruddy - cleaned them up) - Since doing it seems better because it no longer hesitates from standstill.
However, it still feels like it's missing slightly and it runs & idles more 'lumpy' than it used to (Before the problems started).

Today I changed the plugs, cleaned the AFM sensor and the butterfly throttle inside the throttle body - still doing it.

I'm beginning to suspect the headgasket, there's no evidence of water and oil mixing or overheating but I did notice that my header tank was low and afaik I don't have a water leak from anywhere - I've topped it up and will keep and eye on it to see if the water level goes down but in the meantime is there anyway of checking for headgasket damage other than taking the head off? I've been told that a compression test might not show it up as defective or not, are there any kits you can buy to test the coolant water for traces of oil or anything like that?

Any advice is welcome!!

[nam]

my headgasket went on my 1.2m, i found out that it had got by looking at the dip stick and if the oil looked creamey then i has gone (got told this by a vauxhall Engineer). my also had all the same signs as your and would just lose water without a leek.
hope this helps nam03

[Ben]

A pressure test is worth while as it shows 90% of gasket failures and wih the symptoms you have given it would be a developed problem so likely to show up.

If this comes back clear then start to explore deeper, but for the sake of it get it done.

[Cheese]

99% sure you can buy a small bottle of liquid from a motorfactors that you put in the expansion tank, and it changes colour if there is carbon monoxide/dioxide in the water..
Cant remember what its called though :s

Might be worth checking along with the pressure test before you start taking anything apart :)

[Jules]

Ok cheers, will do the following tomorrow - Limp to a branch of Halfords (or similar) to look for a testing kit, limp somemore to a mates garage for a compression test and use the kit!!

[Jules]

Used the car for a bit this morning, looked at expansion tank once I'd finished - water was almost gone (Topped it up 3-4 days ago), I've not got a water leak so this along with the poor running makes me think even more that it is the head or head gasket.

So, I head off to my parents to use their garage and whip the head off - head gasket looks ok, head looks ok, hmmm, then a mechanic friend comes round for a look and notices the top of the pistons (See pic below)

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/julian.sumner/Piston_Tops.jpg
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/julian.sumner/Piston_Tops2.jpg

Those clean marks (that look orange) are apparently likely to be caused by water getting into the bores (Would explain the constant steam from the tailpipe) but like I've already said, the head and gasket look OK although there is some discolouration in the gasket that might of been caused by water (See pic below - between the 3rd and 4th holes along):

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/julian.sumner/Head_Gasket.jpg

The head is now at a engineers being pressure tested for cracks, if it's OK then it'll be skimmed and put back on with all new gaskets and stretch bolts, if it's knackered then it'll be scrap and I'll chuck it out and get a new head.

But has anyone got any ideas on wether it could be the head / gasket? It's got me stumped and 2 mecahnic friends - we can only assume a cracked / damaged head....
:|

[Will]

i currently have a similar problem to yourself :(

think its time for me to sort getting my spare head skimmed, need a torque wrench and then away i go, lol

let us know how u get on.....

[Alex]

lmao, i have exactly the same problem as well. Im loosing so much water, but there definately isn't a leak in any pipes, there is not oil in the water or visa versa.

[Jules]

Maybe it's a seasonal thing for Nova's?
Perhaps it's their way of telling us they don't like to be used during the winter and would rather spend it nice and warm and dry in a lock up somewhere!!!
:lol:

[Will]

the pressure got so much with mine that a pipe burst last night on the M1 water pished everywhere all over the bay and outside over other ppls car steam the lot, nasty, that much pressure tells me sumthing defo isnt happy, going to sort the pipe 2nite and re fill the system but i rekon it will do the same thing, the main oil hasnt mixed with water........... :? :? :?

[DUNOVA.]

mine alway's has steam from the rear (constantly) and im losing water but the run's fine and there's no sighn of leaks maybe mine has the same problem :(

Anyone else with the same problem join the club here :lol:

[Ste_Nova]

yup head gasket... mine was the same... rough running and dirty water

[Jules]

Cheers Ste.
:D

[Will]

what abt the amount of pressure build up in the cooling system?

[Alex]

my bottom radiator pipe is under LOADS of pressure as well. Also the water no longer heats up as much as it used to, it sits at only 1/3 of the way on the graph, whereas it used to read at 1/2 exactly.

Let us know whether this sorts it Jules

[a2lt16v]

i had it for 3 years and many head gasket later header tank looks like an indian curry and system was under pressure just tuck a hole in cap to releive it a bit nut not a big one about a mm. too big and it will boil. cars went great look at it as water injection funny why it leaves the marks by exhaust valves tho

[gurkin_sri]

my car constantly steams from the zorst n waters gettin in oil somewere cause theres a white/yellow creamy stuff in oil car runs perfect not loosing water or nowt.the cars stuck in garrage most of time n iv been told its just condensation any ideas??????????

[Jules]

Head has been pressure tested today and it's not cracked, so it must of been the gasket that failed (Even thought it's 100% intact and shows no signs of fatigue anywhere).
Head is being skimmed and the valves are being faced and lapped in - total ?100 for the lot. Then I'll whack it back on with new gaskets, seals, stretch bolts and cam belt and hope it's cured!!

[Aragorn]

gurkin - if its sitting around in this cold weather u'd need to take it for a long >20mile drive to get all the condensation out the system so dont worry

[Barn]

:o my car is having similiar probs...header tank needs topping up alot but no water leak. b*llocks!

[Ste_Nova]

[quote="Jules"]
Head is being skimmed and the valves are being faced and lapped in - total ?100 for the lot[quote]

thats a bit ??? only cost me ?160 for that on a 16v head.. with 16 new valves

[Jules]

That also includes the pressure test aswell Ste:

Pressure test - ?30
Head skim - ?30
Valve work - ?40

[Ste_Nova]

yup mine included pressure test also