Print

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

[alexw80]

Hi guys, need some advice. Whilst pulling away from the kerb on my way home this morning the car stuttered and then blew out a fairly nice sized cloud of white smoke from the exhaust. After a second or 2 she picked back up and drove fine, except for the smoke that is lol. The coolant is dirty so would assume the HG has gone, or in the process of going.
A mate of mine was due to service it tomorrow and replace the rocker cover gasket, as I found some oil on the top cover where the bolts are. But now I guess it's going to be a bit more than a service. Can't really afford a garage job, money is a little tight at the mo lol

So, I've a few questions if anyone can help. What's the best way to find out for sure it is the HG. I'm pretty sure it is, but just want to be certain.

If it is, what's the best HG kit to get, genuine VX or pattern, and roughly what price am I looking at?

If it has gone I may as well look at doing some other way while I'm at it.

The exhaust manifold, if that needs replacing what's the best option for that? I'll probably also do the oil level sensor while I'm at it, been bugging me for a while that it's not working.
While I'm here, anyone know the part number and rough price for the coolant bottle. It was yellow before the water changed so may as well do it at the same time.

Any advice you can offer would be most appreciated.

[freecall666]

would have a persure test before changing head gasket, also can get a back fire if the plugs are wet or coverd in oil, also gray smoke can be water in the exhaust can happen if been stud for a wile or parked down hill at night but a good long drive will clear that out, if water fine and oil not moved off the dipstick would not think its going into the pistons. with the oil top off is there any mayo in there. white cream stuff or oily film in the water.?

[alexw80]

Doesn't seem that the oil level has dropped, although there does appear to be an oily film in the water. Car doesn't stand for more than a day at the most, but doesn't do many miles. Just to work and back, I'm very lazy you see lol

No back fire and the smoke was quite heavy at times. Will get a pressure test done before I have anything done to it just to be sure.

[dbug]

Also a compression test would be helpful 

[tgm147]

Yours may be like mine and gone between two cylinders. 2 and 3 in my case which was pressurizing the water system. Don't know how much water mine used (mainly because the big cracked hose leaked it all out pretty damn quick) but there was a flow of steam always present from the exhaust pipes even when it was warm.

[alexw80]

I'll look into getting a compression test done as well, thanks for the advice.

Anyone have an idea on pricing for parts and whether they should be VX or pattern, just in case?