Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[steve0mega]

Hi guys i drive a 2000 3.0 v6 estate, absoulte gem only 80000 miles but recently the coolent light kept coming on and theres alot of white smoke coming from the exhaust, i also noticed where you put the oil in theres like grease in under the cap. Is this a broken head gasket? Thanks for your help

[Welung666]

Right, for a start take your panic cap off and answer a few questions for me...

1. Is there any oil in the coolant expansion bottle?

2. Is the oil on the dipstick a normal oil colour or milky?

3. Have you lost any oil or coolant?


The creamy stuff (mayo) on the filler cap is normal if you do lots of short runs and the smoke (actually steam) is also normal in colder weather.

Head gaskets are very rare on the V6 engines.

P.S. as you're on 80k you should be looking at getting the cam belt changed for the 2nd time in the cars life

[steve0mega]

Hi bud, im not really mechanical sorry, but i can tell you that the oil in the dipstick is normal oil colour but im toping up the coolant on a daily basis, the air con isnt working at the minute aswell which may have something to do with it

[Welung666]

Air con is a seperate system so don't worry about that at the moment, easy enough to get it tested later.

How much coolant are you losing per day/week?

Have you had the car long? Any history on the cam belt changes? (not relevant to the question first asked I know but trying to make you aware of the 40,000 mile/4 year change ).

[steve0mega]

my sis gave it to me about 6 months ago, id say im filling it up every day to the mark started just using water as i really cant afford to be buying that much coolant lol not sure on the cam belt il ask her nxt time i see her thanks for the info

[Welung666]

Where abouts are you?

A little job for tomorrow... with the car warmed up, open the bonnet, stand on the drivers side with a good, strong torch. Right at the back of the engine underneath the plenum (big cast piece on top of the engine) is the HBV (heater bypass valve, black plastic that looks a bit like a spaceship), look down the back of the engine for traces of water dripping. It is the most common source of coolant leaks on the migs

If you're close to me I'll gladly take a look for you

[steve0mega]

yeah there was a leak, when i first noticed the problem i looked unfer the car and there was something leaking im now quessing that its coolant, i live in n.ireland bud you?

[Welung666]

I'm near Birmingham so a bit far really. I'm sure one of the NI guys will shout up and have a quick look for you

[feeutfo]

Head gasket is fine, have a search of this site via google. Mayo in the filler cap is normal for short journeys and I suppose more likely in winter.

Does have a water lark though.

[duggs]

Note also that the aircon won't work in any event if the outside temperature is too low albeit a separate issue to the coolant leak.