possible head gasket problem....

Hi everyone,

Newbie here, I've had a read around as much as I could find that might be related before I ask, and have to say this looks like a great forum in general and for a few other tiny niggles with the car (new key fob and now i know why the cruise control stopped working last week when the rear bulb warning came up!).

Last week when I got back from a short across town journey I parked up and after turning the engine off noticed some steam coming out from the grill / wheel arches. Opened the bonnet and couldn't really find anything coming from anywhere so hoped it was just how cold it was outside compared to engine bay - notice use of the word hope!

left it a few hours and then went to pick up the wife from work a mile or two away, when I got there I left it running and opened up the bonnet, this time noticed a little water jet / spurt from a hose and some steam coming from the side of the engine itself.

I've not used it since whilst i waited for the inevitable worries of a big bill etc, mainly concerned it was the head gasket, and have taken some pics and done a load of reading today, also not had time to see if there is much missing water but the car never got to engine temp (on clocks) to fast nor overheated according to the clock last week. not used it since from fear!

turns out the little jet of water is from the "throttle housing inlet hose" and the steam / bubbling leak was from what i think is the rocker gasket not the head gasket area.

i thought i would post the story and these pics to get some advice on what to check tomorrow or whether i should be preparing for a huge bill / calling the main stealer / using a specialist?

thanks in advance and sorry for the long post!

dan

m5systems said:

turns out the little jet of water is from the "throttle housing inlet hose" and the steam / bubbling leak was from what i think is the rocker gasket not the head gasket area.

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Hello Dan,

If you definitely saw the jet of water coming from the rubber pipe, then its probably also dripping upon the top of the rocker cover when the pressure is lower and you coincidently observed the coolant bubbling/boiling off where it runs onto the very hot cylinder head/block as it drips off the rocker cover.

No expensive worries if it is just a split hose or equally likely a leaking joint between rubber pipe and the stub pipe it is secured too.

Just remove the pipe from the stub, clean it all up and refit with a good condition hose clip.

If the pipe is split near the end, shorten it and refit, or replace if that is not possible.

More sinister might be the question WHY is it happening?

If it is just the pipe etc, as suggested above, then OK, but it might be an over pressurised coolant system finding the weakest place to pop, leading to three possibilities:

1. failed coolant pressure cap not releasing pressure as it should, at about 15 psi. Check and replace if needed.

2. air in the system producing steam at pressure. (but the pressure cap should release the pressure). Make sure all air is expelled from the system when refilling with coolant.

3. head gasket failure pumping up the cooling system. Check for oil in coolant and or water in the engine oil, or mayonaisse in the rocker covers.

I'd have to say 2 and 3 are most unlikely to occur at the same time as a pressure cap failure.

So. fix the leaking pipe first, top up the system and give it a try on a short run from home.

If that does not stop the problem and it is overpressurising to pop out somewhere else, then move on to 1, 2 or 3 in that order.

Dont jump to expensive conclusions and in the meantime stop worrying.

ramon.alban said:

Hello Dan,

If you definitely saw the jet of water coming from the rubber pipe, then its probably also dripping upon the top of the rocker cover when the pressure is lower and you coincidently observed the coolant bubbling/boiling off where it runs onto the very hot cylinder head/block as it drips off the rocker cover.

No expensive worries if it is just a split hose or equally likely a leaking joint between rubber pipe and the stub pipe it is secured too.

Just remove the pipe from the stub, clean it all up and refit with a good condition hose clip.

If the pipe is split near the end, shorten it and refit, or replace if that is not possible.

More sinister might be the question WHY is it happening?

If it is just the pipe etc, as suggested above, then OK, but it might be an over pressurised coolant system finding the weakest place to pop, leading to three possibilities:

1. failed coolant pressure cap not releasing pressure as it should, at about 15 psi. Check and replace if needed.

2. air in the system producing steam at pressure. (but the pressure cap should release the pressure). Make sure all air is expelled from the system when refilling with coolant.

3. head gasket failure pumping up the cooling system. Check for oil in coolant and or water in the engine oil, or mayonaisse in the rocker covers.

I'd have to say 2 and 3 are most unlikely to occur at the same time as a pressure cap failure.

So. fix the leaking pipe first, top up the system and give it a try on a short run from home.

If that does not stop the problem and it is overpressurising to pop out somewhere else, then move on to 1, 2 or 3 in that order.

Dont jump to expensive conclusions and in the meantime stop worrying.

Click to expand...

As said above, cut pipe re-fit, bleed and observe!

ramon.alban said:

Hello Dan,

If you definitely saw the jet of water coming from the rubber pipe, then its probably also dripping upon the top of the rocker cover when the pressure is lower and you coincidently observed the coolant bubbling/boiling off where it runs onto the very hot cylinder head/block as it drips off the rocker cover.

No expensive worries if it is just a split hose or equally likely a leaking joint between rubber pipe and the stub pipe it is secured too.

Just remove the pipe from the stub, clean it all up and refit with a good condition hose clip.

If the pipe is split near the end, shorten it and refit, or replace if that is not possible.

More sinister might be the question WHY is it happening?

If it is just the pipe etc, as suggested above, then OK, but it might be an over pressurised coolant system finding the weakest place to pop, leading to three possibilities:

1. failed coolant pressure cap not releasing pressure as it should, at about 15 psi. Check and replace if needed.

2. air in the system producing steam at pressure. (but the pressure cap should release the pressure). Make sure all air is expelled from the system when refilling with coolant.

3. head gasket failure pumping up the cooling system. Check for oil in coolant and or water in the engine oil, or mayonaisse in the rocker covers.

I'd have to say 2 and 3 are most unlikely to occur at the same time as a pressure cap failure.

So. fix the leaking pipe first, top up the system and give it a try on a short run from home.

If that does not stop the problem and it is overpressurising to pop out somewhere else, then move on to 1, 2 or 3 in that order.

Dont jump to expensive conclusions and in the meantime stop worrying.

Click to expand...

EXCELLENT advice and good point about the reasoning too.

definately a spurt from that throttle housing inlet, but definately also bubbling and slight leak from that far corner of the rocker cover, there was steam from wherever the water was hitting though as you say - i think it was manifold / exhaust from the rocker and cant remember from the throttle housing hose.

Thank you very much, i really appreciate you taking the time to comment and help out, i'll get out there today hopefully and follow the instructions and report back!


thanks, dan

that throttle pipe caused my liners to slip after it failed and car o/heated. for what it will cost get it replaced!

ramon.alban said:

Hello Dan,

If you definitely saw the jet of water coming from the rubber pipe, then its probably also dripping upon the top of the rocker cover when the pressure is lower and you coincidently observed the coolant bubbling/boiling off where it runs onto the very hot cylinder head/block as it drips off the rocker cover.

No expensive worries if it is just a split hose or equally likely a leaking joint between rubber pipe and the stub pipe it is secured too.

Just remove the pipe from the stub, clean it all up and refit with a good condition hose clip.

If the pipe is split near the end, shorten it and refit, or replace if that is not possible.

More sinister might be the question WHY is it happening?

If it is just the pipe etc, as suggested above, then OK, but it might be an over pressurised coolant system finding the weakest place to pop, leading to three possibilities:

1. failed coolant pressure cap not releasing pressure as it should, at about 15 psi. Check and replace if needed.

2. air in the system producing steam at pressure. (but the pressure cap should release the pressure). Make sure all air is expelled from the system when refilling with coolant.

3. head gasket failure pumping up the cooling system. Check for oil in coolant and or water in the engine oil, or mayonaisse in the rocker covers.

I'd have to say 2 and 3 are most unlikely to occur at the same time as a pressure cap failure.

So. fix the leaking pipe first, top up the system and give it a try on a short run from home.

If that does not stop the problem and it is overpressurising to pop out somewhere else, then move on to 1, 2 or 3 in that order.

Dont jump to expensive conclusions and in the meantime stop worrying.

Click to expand...

hi guys,

so firstly, again thanks for everyones help so far, much appreciated.

update......

between the weather and work today was the first chance i had to get out there, just left it off the road and used the other car for now.

have removed the clip for the hose and cleaned around the end but not got the hose off yet, giving it a minute whilst the thing also charges as it went dead after not using for a couple of weeks.

topped up the water reservoir too, i think 2 or so litres went in....

decided whilst thats all waiting i'd take a look at under the oil filler cap and am now quite worried - pics attached for opinions - but i am pretty sure there is good evidence of what we all seem to refer to mayonnaise in there - what do we think?!

am waiting for it to finish charging and also get out there to get this hose off to check about this split or leak and re-fit but thought i would see what you guys thought.

thanks in advance, dan

that little bit of mayo is not bad,did you use the car for lots of small journeys??.

m5systems said:

Last week when I got back from a short across town journey I parked up ...........................................
left it a few hours and then went to pick up the wife from work a mile or two away, dan

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Given the above statements, I wouldnt be too worried at this point in time. The throttle body heater is a known weak spot and plenty of people have just by-passed it. But equally it is a simple fix. Just make sure you clean up the stubs to remove any corrosion.

Just keep a good eye on water levels, clean out the gunk from the oil filler and give her a good run every now and then.

gemsdad said:

that little bit of mayo is not bad,did you use the car for lots of small journeys??.

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i am afraid i am almost ashamed to admit it has at least recently only exclusively done short journeys! it is a bit of a chelsea tractor for us, which annoys me when people moan! we just wanted a big, very nice car - it fits the bill!!

anyway, yes - lately we have only been running across town or about town in it, not done a proper trip since about november to birmingham and it went like a dream.

hopefully going to get out there tomorrow to try charging the battery again (crap charger didnt do the job sunday) and the pipe.

glad it isnt all doom and gloom after seeing the cap and pooping myself!

cheers guys

dan

i would get a hydrocarbon test done. just to be on the safer side!

gavbriggs said:

i would get a hydrocarbon test done. just to be on the safer side!

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i definately prefer being on the safer side with it, given the potential worst case scenario, cheers for the advice.

do i need to be looking out for a specific type of garage or do i just ask around if they can do the test? and any rough guess of a price and how long? am i talking £1000 and a week or £200 and a couple of days sorts of thing?


thanks!

£10 and 10 mins. They just take a sample of water and pass it through an indicator.