Headgasket

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Rover dave · #1 Post by **Rover dave** » Fri Jan 18, 2019 8:57 pm

Like most people I check the levels on my car most weeks and tonight I have noticed some brownish sludge in my expansion tank

and although the dipstick and oil filler cap are spotless and the car runs spot on I fear a head gasket problem any advice please .

#2 Post by **Paul_1978_yorks** » Fri Jan 18, 2019 11:14 pm

Hi Dave, it’s not a foregone conclusion that it’s HGF. What engine is it? K series example?

#3 Post by **1234dist** » Sat Jan 19, 2019 7:29 am

in this weather, it is normal to have a little-evaporated oil vapour.

Just keep doing what you are doing, monitor the water level, if it drops significantly. its mayo time soon so get it done before the mayo to make your life easier.

#4 Post by **alviseven** » Sat Jan 19, 2019 10:42 am

I get quite a bit of light brown sewage coloured sludge on the underside of my oil filler cap on my astra engine. Water level never drops but the winter is much worse - the car does quite a few short journeys and only gets properly warm when taken to London or similar on a long run. Decided long ago that it is water vapour from the oil or condensation from inside the cold engine. Does not mean you are out of the woods but perfectly possible you may also be OK. ON my D16 honda engines it has either been a quick catastrophic failure when you know it has gone - smoke out back, lost of power, take plugs out and the affected bores steam etc or you can find a significant drop in compression on the affected cars. If is a D16 engine then my advice would be to get the head skimmed and buy a decent quality gasket.

Rover dave · #5 Post by **Rover dave** » Sat Jan 19, 2019 10:10 pm

Will keep checking water level , thanks for all the advice guys .

Rover dave · #6 Post by **Rover dave** » Mon Apr 08, 2019 7:32 pm

Ive been checking the water level almost every day since my last post on this problem. Checked tonight after a 20 min drive home from work expansion tank is now pushing out coolant !!!!!!

. Inside of oil filler cap , and dipstick spotless and car drives ok . Any thought`s please . HGF ?

Vinny1979 · #7 Post by **Vinny1979** » Mon Apr 08, 2019 8:10 pm

Did you open it whilst still warm?

#8 Post by **1234dist** » Mon Apr 08, 2019 8:15 pm

As above, if you open the cap while the system is still pressurised it will spit some out.

Rover dave · #9 Post by **Rover dave** » Mon Apr 08, 2019 8:28 pm

No , the coolant had pushed it`s own way out , long before I went near the cap

Vinny1979 · #10 Post by **Vinny1979** » Mon Apr 08, 2019 8:33 pm

New cap 1st

Rover dave · #11 Post by **Rover dave** » Mon Apr 08, 2019 9:18 pm

Do caps fail then ? Is this due to age ? as I have had many old cars and never had to replace a cap before .

#12 Post by **crepello** » Mon Apr 08, 2019 10:08 pm

Stuck (closed) thermostat? Water pump impeller disintegrated?

#13 Post by **1234dist** » Tue Apr 09, 2019 6:46 am

Start with the easy fix first, the cap is a common fault and can cause all the issues you have listed so far.

Absolute worst case, even if it’s hgf it’s £100 in parts and 2hrs to fix, and a skim if needed.

Rover dave · #14 Post by **Rover dave** » Tue Apr 09, 2019 8:08 pm

Hi got a new cap tonight see how I get on my mechanic say`s steel seal may work if its more serious , anyone know of this or used it? £28.00 on ebay . Does it work?

#15 Post by **1234dist** » Tue Apr 09, 2019 8:46 pm

tell him he's a d***

That will gum up everything, and you will never get rid of it.
Fix it properly or scrap it!

(Bl**dy cowboys)

Rover 200 & 400 Owners Club Forum

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