Print

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

[DaveA]

   Am loosing water, can sometimes a bit lumpy on start up, now the exhaust as a pleasant sweet smell when I start first time, no rotten egg smell. Am I right in thinking head gasket needs replacing. No warning lights.   Car runs well normally?     

[jonathanh]

No.

No reason to suspect hg. Need methodical diagnosis.

[dbug]

What makes you think head gasket gone?

[MaxV6]

my guess is that antifreeze smells sweet......     (thus it's use in austrian wine) and the OP, smelling that sweetness in his exhaust has concluded that there's coolant getting in to the system somewhere, and being shoved down the exhaust....



it's not impossible.....  but i'd expect it to be over pressurising the coolant system,


you losing coolant at all


the only place i've seen v6 HG's go is passenger bank rear left nearside corner .....  seen 2 or 3 personally ,  and heard of several others....   and only on late 3.0 v6,   not personally seen one on 3.2 or 2.6, but it doesn't mean it's impossible.....  however, it usually manifests in a slight coolant leak at the rear of the block on the near side....     


too often i've heard the phrase "they never go" about assorted bits on our migs....    and it turns out to be the exception again.....    so these days i assume that it could be....  even if it's unlikely..... 

[albitz]

Looks like OP drives a 2.2 four pot. Head gasket problem much more likely on a four pot.

[biggriffin]

have to agree with albitz  2.2 and head gaskets yup 

[MaxV6]

oops , should have noticed......   

[DaveA]

Thanks for replys
                       Yes I drive a 2.2. If the cooling system is being over pressurised, would a new expansion tank filler cap cure it.    Mark DTM did a diagnostic about a fortnight ago every thing seemed ok then.  Think I will let a local garage, that Mark recommended, have a look      

[DaveA]

   I have checked all the coolant hoses and hose connections, replaced HBV, still loosing coolant, going to replace head gasket. Anyone any other ideas?   Going to VX for gaskets. What about replacement head bolts and camshaft sprocket bolts, is it best to stay with VX or will sets from ebay suit?    2.2 model.

[feeutfo]

Awaits reply from RobG.

If the spark plug is removed after a lay up, any water in pot 4 sitting on the piston? Any water in the oil?

[DaveA]

Awaits reply from RobG.

If the spark plug is removed after a lay up, any water in pot 4 sitting on the piston? Any water in the oil?

      Tried that, but could not see well enough to tell one way or another.  If I leave car standing for a while, release all pressure form the expansion tank, then start engine tank pressurised very quickly well before water is hot. No water in oil, or oil in water, well not that I can see.Just  been down to a garage (not VX) and HG is his opinion. Am loosing a lot of water now, have to top up after 30 - 40 miles, but only when car running, not when car is standing, cannot see any leaks, no water on the floor either.
      Thing is off to Dorset a week Wednesday, if there is likely to be any other cause, we've haven't much time.       

    PS
 One thing I found to the good, was that I have had a rattle for a long while, that I could no find. When checking to see if radiator drain tap was leaking, noticed the the twin horns were rubbing together, bent brackets a bit, no rattle

[RobG]

Get your hands on a compression tester and check each cylinder.
174-218 psi (12-15 bar)
Allowable difference between cylinders = 15 psi (1 bar)

[Kevin Wood]

If the header tank pressurises instantly, there is only one place that pressure can come from, IMHO. Through the head gasket.

Lumpy running from start-up is also a symptom, as is coolant smell from the exhaust.

How many miles has it done? Not at all unusual for a 2.2 with 6 figure mileage.

[DaveA]

     Motor has covered just under 97,800 been Tesco's shopping and instead of the water expanding in the tank it looked like the water was being pushed down.
       

[DaveA]

Get your hands on a compression tester and check each cylinder.
174-218 psi (12-15 bar)
Allowable difference between cylinders = 15 psi (1 bar)

  Did a test, only a cheep tester though, that showed evenly on all four pots, so I change the HBV which had not shown any leaks. Still using a lot of water and getting worse.