deano87
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Registered: 21st Oct 06
Location: Bedfordshire Drives: Ford Fiesta
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2000 W-reg 12v 72,600 miles.
I just checked my oil, which is fine. Consumption is next to nothing as well. Nothing under the filler cap.
I then thought I'd check inside the coolant header tank thing, and there is like greasy white stuff floating on top of the water and in the cap. The car had just done a long journey, and cooled down, so I don't think it'd be condensation.
Is this bad news?
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Robbbbb
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Registered: 31st Jan 07
Location: Portsmouth, Hampshire
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Not necessarily mate, the car running as it should? power still feels all there? any more than usual exhaust smoke? it using any water? if that lot is all good then i wouldn't worry too much just keep checking it every now and then under the oil filler and water etc, you could always do a compression test to give you peace of mind and/or try one of them things that you dip in to the water to see if it's contaminated with exhaust gasses but at this stage i wouldn't bother unless of course you start noticing any of the above questions coming in to effect! 
Rob
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deano87
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Registered: 21st Oct 06
Location: Bedfordshire Drives: Ford Fiesta
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No, it isn't consuming any water.
I have no idea about the power, it's a 12v and slow, but doesn't really seem different to when I first got it.
It struggles to start sometimes and I have to give it a blip on the throttle. When it's warm and I start it up, it sometimes has a funny noise, like running water.
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Dave A
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Registered: 10th Dec 03
Location: County Durham
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short journeys? it is common to get condensation at this time of year as well which will cause a similar problem.
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deano87
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Registered: 21st Oct 06
Location: Bedfordshire Drives: Ford Fiesta
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quote: Originally posted by Dave A
short journeys? it is common to get condensation at this time of year as well which will cause a similar problem.
I've checked the oil after a short journey before and had condensation under the oil filler cap.
This journey was about 25miles. Motorway as well, so I'd presume the engine was hot - is that classed as short?
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Robbbbb
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Registered: 31st Jan 07
Location: Portsmouth, Hampshire
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That running water noise is usually an airlock in or around the heater matrix, i've had it a couple of times on various cars i've owned, a bubbling water noise just behind the dash, drain your coolant out and put fresh stuff in giving it a good bleed along the way and see if it comes back, it's probably not been done for ages?
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deano87
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Registered: 21st Oct 06
Location: Bedfordshire Drives: Ford Fiesta
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quote: Originally posted by Robbbbb
That running water noise is usually an airlock in or around the heater matrix, i've had it a couple of times on various cars i've owned, a bubbling water noise just behind the dash, drain your coolant out and put fresh stuff in giving it a good bleed along the way and see if it comes back, it's probably not been done for ages?
The last time it was done was in February, when I had my crash and blew the radiator. That was about 5k miles ago, so that is all pretty fresh
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deano87
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Registered: 21st Oct 06
Location: Bedfordshire Drives: Ford Fiesta
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Because mine seems to be at the early stages of the head gasket going, is it still ok to drive? Or should I just try and avoid it? As I said, it isn't consuming any water or oil
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Jake
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Registered: 24th Jan 05
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get a compression test done on it.
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deano87
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Registered: 21st Oct 06
Location: Bedfordshire Drives: Ford Fiesta
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quote: Originally posted by jake
get a compression test done on it.
Getting that done Friday hopefully. Any idea if I should drive it, even at such an early stage?
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Robin
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Registered: 7th Jan 04
Location: Northants Drives: Clio 182 Cup
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It'll be fine
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Dave A
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Registered: 10th Dec 03
Location: County Durham
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ask for a LEAKDOWN compression test. that way you can be confident that if compression is low, why it is low.
a normal compression test will only show if its low or not.
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deano87
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Registered: 21st Oct 06
Location: Bedfordshire Drives: Ford Fiesta
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quote: Originally posted by Robin
It'll be fine
Ok. I'll just take it very easy and not drive it unnecessarily. Luckily I can get to Uni without a car, just
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deano87
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Registered: 21st Oct 06
Location: Bedfordshire Drives: Ford Fiesta
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Turns out the headgasket is fine.
He did a block test (I think it was that?!) with blue fluid in a syringe type thing on the coolant tank. And it didn't turn green, even after ages. It was idling so long the fan cut in, so it was pretty warm, and still no green-ness.
No idea what has caused the mayo stuff. He said no need to do a leakdown test as it's driving fine 
What're more he didn't charge me 
[Edited on 12-10-2007 by deano87]
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