Head gasket failure again or remnants from last time?

So my top tube split yesterday. The engine didn't overheat and i pulled over and turned it off straight away. I'd caught it as soon as it happened as i was in traffic and saw the steam from under my bonnet. I bodged it with some silicone sealant and duct tape and made my way home as i just had enough coolant left.

I've just taken out the top tube and had a good look at it, and it had a small bit of the dreaded mayo substance lining it. So did the top pipe going into the the radiator.

There was also a very tiny small bit in the header tank.

It's been driving absolutely fine and it's not lost its livelyness at all. And i only changed the oil yesterday, the old oil was squeaky clean, and so is the new oil today still.

So could this be the start of another HGF or is this mayo likely to be just the remnants left over from last time the head gasket went? Possibly disturbed and brought to the header tank by me bodging the hose?

Ok, i think i'm just being very very paranoid possibly caused by a lot of things going wrong at once.

After reading the following thread General How To.... Diagnose a K Series Head Gasket Failure - MG-Rover.org Forums it's settled my mind a little and i'm pretty sure the mayo i've seen was from the previous HGF. My oil and coolant look nothing like what they do in the pic on the thread, and were both squeaky clean.

So i'm in the process of doing a more permanent fix on the hose now it's out the engine, cleaned thoroughly, dried and patched. Then i'll refill with water for now and bleed, if i don't lose coolant after that i'll know it should be ok and my K series is getting very close to 80,000 miles without a second HGF.

I'll get a replacement hose tomorrow or as soon as i can get one ordered for.

Hi, I wouldnt worry to much yet,
reckon its mayo left over from the last HGF, your speedy actions in stopping the car will have prevented catastrophic overheating so I would replace the hose, replenish the coolant and see how the engine runs just keep an eye on the coolant and oil for the next couple of days. You said yourself that its running fine and has full power.
PMA- Positive Mental Attitude!
Itll be alreet!
Hopefully!

I've stopped worrying now thanks to some PMA

Plan of action, forget about refitting the old pipe. Flush the system thoroughly. Will be difficult as i've no access to a garden hose in the underground carpark :doh:

For some reason the garage that last did a coolant change on her put green coolant in, so i'll use this as an excuse to flush and put some red in her instead.

Then with some new hose fitted and new red coolant she should be running grand again!

Until the next thing to break

They dont 'break'!
They become unserviceable due to being used and enjoyed!
All cars have their vices, its not just hippos!
Apparently the doors do fall off though when wet....

Your plan sounds good, a couple of buckets poured through will do it-flush that mayo away!