gavin18787
Premium Member
Registered: 22nd Feb 05
Location: Basildon, Essex
User status: Offline
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I brought a gsi a couple of weeks ago and its been fine up until today.
Noticed it was a bit smoky this morning and if you accelerate hard it seems a little hesitant and slightly juddery.
So I have just checked the coolent level it was very low. I know i checked it on sunday and it was fine.
So im thinking the headgasket may be on the way out 
What can i do to confirm my fears? 
Drives supercharged Tec with torque  
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Adam-D
Member
Registered: 11th May 02
Location: Cheshire
User status: Offline
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could just be a airlock or it may have a leak
check for leaks first and do a compression test
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VegasPhil
Premium Member
Registered: 16th Jan 05
Location: Fareham, Hants Drives: Octavia VRS
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Could be a leak. Look at the driveway when you leave it at night then come back out and look for wet spots on the ground 
Corsa 2.0 16v Vegas - Sold
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Warren G
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Registered: 14th May 06
Location: Kent
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to see if its a head gasket you need to do a sniffer test - tests for co2 in the coolant
smoke could be steam seals
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gavin18787
Premium Member
Registered: 22nd Feb 05
Location: Basildon, Essex
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by Adam-D
could just be a airlock or it may have a leak
check for leaks first and do a compression test
will an airlock clear itself or does the system need draining and re filling. as it could be this as i replaced the coolent on saturday as mine was really old and scummy.
I couldnt see any obvious leaks from where i was parked but i will put a sheet of card under it tomoro to see if any thing is coming out.
Is it expensive to get a compression test or sniffer test done as i assume you need specilist equipment to do them?
cheers for the replys Gavin
Drives supercharged Tec with torque
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dan_c4rsa
Member
Registered: 12th Dec 06
Location: North Yorks Drives: MK3 Seat Cupra
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thats dump. think im buying mine sunday - if i get a problem i'll cry because my sxi's been amazing.
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Warren G
Member
Registered: 14th May 06
Location: Kent
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if you changed the coolant then you have to wait until the fan cuts in - this makes sure the coolant has fully circuilated the system and all air is out
vauxhall's are self bleeding systems, so top the level back up and it should stay the same level
don't worry about compession test, if you went to a small garage and drive up and stay just do a sniffer/headgasket test will take 2 seconds (along as the engines hot) and probley £10, but i cant see any need since you said you changed the coolant, the level always goes down on first drive
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Adam-D
Member
Registered: 11th May 02
Location: Cheshire
User status: Offline
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compression tester is about £20 and you can do it yourself
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=10151&productId=199553&categoryId=31477
to clear a air lock put the heaters on hot and full, run the car upto temp till the thermostat opens rev it a bit and you shud get coolent throu the top 2 inlets of the header tank, check all pipes are hot and thatll it be clear
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gavin18787
Premium Member
Registered: 22nd Feb 05
Location: Basildon, Essex
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by warren.g
if you changed the coolant then you have to wait until the fan cuts in - this makes sure the coolant has fully circuilated the system and all air is out
vauxhall's are self bleeding systems, so top the level back up and it should stay the same level
don't worry about compession test, if you went to a small garage and drive up and stay just do a sniffer/headgasket test will take 2 seconds (along as the engines hot) and probley £10, but i cant see any need since you said you changed the coolant, the level always goes down on first drive
Yer fan came in on the way home from work whilst in traffic. brought the temp back down fine, also checked all of the pipes when i got in and they were all hot.
Might get the test done anyway just to be sure as im still not 100% as its still a bit smokey and after it has been switched off you can here the coolent bottle fizzing away.
Am i ok to be using the car just in case it is the head gasket going?
Drives supercharged Tec with torque
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Warren G
Member
Registered: 14th May 06
Location: Kent
User status: Offline
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most will 'fizz' a bit, but id just make sure, its only gonna cost £10 to find out
and if the worse comes to the worse, im sure we could work something out 
but lets hope its gonna be okay 
o yes you can use the car, but if you find out its gone best to fix asap
[Edited on 14-03-2007 by warren.g]
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gavin18787
Premium Member
Registered: 22nd Feb 05
Location: Basildon, Essex
User status: Offline
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Ive got next week off work anyway to use up some anual leave so il nip down one the local garage on monday to get it checked as im going to get a quote from the body shop down there anyway.
Warren if it stays smokey what would it cost to get the steam seals done, big job?
Cheers for the help everyone
Drives supercharged Tec with torque
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Warren G
Member
Registered: 14th May 06
Location: Kent
User status: Offline
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IF its the steam seals its a head off job, and all of the cylinder head stripped (all valves out) and the replacing the seals, which if there the same as my one all a bitch to get out
if doing a headgasket its not that much extra work, but if you was to do the steam seals you would replace the head gasket anyway, so its sort of win win 
get a quote off the garage to do the job - just for a laugh! 
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gavin18787
Premium Member
Registered: 22nd Feb 05
Location: Basildon, Essex
User status: Offline
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will do
If its not causing any damage im not too fussed as the smoke isnt excessive just more then my old car
Drives supercharged Tec with torque
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BarnshaW
Member
Registered: 25th Oct 06
User status: Offline
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my stem seals are gone just have to top it up with oil more frequently
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Cole
Member
Registered: 11th Nov 02
Location: eastbourne Drives:zafira sold now a qashqai
User status: Offline
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if it goes gav and causes any damage to the head i have a spare
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gavin18787
Premium Member
Registered: 22nd Feb 05
Location: Basildon, Essex
User status: Offline
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thanks
but lets hope not
Drives supercharged Tec with torque
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