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[Clouseau]

I'm about to embark on my 2nd head gasket change in 18 months. Had to take the head off last time to repair snapped exhaust studs and I used a cheap ebay HG kit.  I'm fairly certain now that it's leaking although I'm going to confirm with a compression test. (I bought the Gunsons meter but I'm waiting for the extension piece to arrive as the plugs are so deep in the Ecotec head). This was what the gasket looked like ...



Symptoms:

1. Misfire when starting from cold (lasts about 10 seconds before clearing)
2. More white smoke than usual on start up
3. Thin film of oil on coolant in header tank plus orrible smell of oil/petrol
4. Very slight coolant loss (internal)

No mayonnaise though.

Can you help with these questions?

1. Is it a false economy to use cheaper gasket sets or should I just go with GM? How much will the head gasket be?
2. Haynes recommends renewing the crankshaft sprocket bolts (is this really necessary?) - head bolts of course will be replaced
3. I'm considering removing the head with the manifolds attached to save time - is this doable?

Cheers

Rich

[Abiton]

I bought a genuine Vx headgasket 'kit' which wasn't cheap, it had all the gaskets you might need, and new valve stem seals and camshaft oil seals, but didn't include headbolts or camcover gasket IIRC.  But I felt confident that the gasket(s) would all be correct and of sufficient quality for peace of mind.

I did renew cam sprocket bolts, and because they come in a pack of 5 ( ) I have some you could have for the price of the postage, possibly saving you a few quid (can't remember how much the pack was now).  Haynes told me to use new ones, so I did; dunno how much it matters.

I removed the head with exhaust mani still on, but inlet off.  I might be tempted to leave both on if I ever had to do it again, not sure.

Although your symptoms sound fairly conclusive, I'd have a look down the plugholes with a torch before going for it.  There's nothing like seeing coolant sitting on a piston crown to convince you that you've diagnosed it right IMHO.
Out of interest, which pot had the problem first time?

[Clouseau]

Thanks for the offer - I'd like to take you up on that.

The head gasket was fine when I changed it in 2008, but the head had to come off to get at the studs. I also replaced the cambelt and pulleys as well as the crank oil seal. The studs from no.1 cylinder had both gone which warped and cracked the manifold.

[Abiton]

Thanks for the offer - I'd like to take you up on that.

The head gasket was fine when I changed it in 2008, but the head had to come off to get at the studs. I also replaced the cambelt and pulleys as well as the crank oil seal. The studs from no.1 cylinder had both gone which warped and cracked the manifold.

Sorry, yes, I forgot you'd said that.
Just PM me your preferred delivery address for the sprocket bolts. 
Edit: Wait, you might want to check that they're the same part for your engine (2.0 or 2.2?). What I have is 90466737, to suit X20XEV.  I expect they're all the same, but worth a quick check.

[PhilRich]

The VX H/G Kit is VERY expensive iro £120+vat. Strangely, if you buy the gaskets & head bolts seperately, you will save a fair bit of money. ALWAYS buy GENUINE GM Gaskets! I have found this from bitter experience. Iirc, the H/G has just cost me pennies short of £20 + vat, head bolts were £3.17 +vat each. HTH 

[Clouseau]

Had a peek down the spark plug holes this morning and found that no.3 cylinder had water in it.

So I'll spend a few days gathering all the bits I'm going to need and get down to it next weekend. (Would have been perfect today; blue skies and sunshine). Bet it snows next week :-/