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[Rockfordk]

I have a 2.2 GLS 2003. I noticed a steamy appearance to my exhaust fumes, which were more noticible than usual. Having checked my coolant it was extremely low. I filled up, took a 15 mile drive and it was extremely low again, losing most of what I had topped up.
Could it be anything else other than a blown head gasket. Oil doesn't look too bad. No sludge on dipstick. Although I did top up before noticing coolant loss.
Car has been a little juddery occasionally.
Any ideas how much to have garage replace if indeed it is bad news. Is it safe to drive on short journeys if gasket has gone. Garage I use is about 30 miles away.
Any help would be mush appreciated.

[feeutfo]

have you checked for coolent leaks? hbv is common culprit, but if its loosing that much i would expect coolent to be visible under the car. Would suggest dropping the oil and see if it has a chocolatey gravey milky appearence. If so hg gone.

4 pot hg not too bad diy. If the exhaust manifold comes off without breaking bolts that is.

Im thinking about £300 for a garage to fix maybe?

[cem_devecioglu]

have a compression test with a completely cold engine..this will give a better idea..

[Rockfordk]

Thanks for response. If heater bypass valve was the problem, would it only lose coolant when engine running. No coolant was lost overnight.

[fife_omega_v6]

if its the hbv then presure in the system would go down after a while after engine off hence no loss over night ,when the engine starts the presure in the heating system d up again and youll lose coolant.

[Rockfordk]

Thanks for that. Exhaust fumes do seem to be 'steamy'. Sorry, not technical at all!  Could Heater Bypass Valve cause this to?

[fife_omega_v6]

http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1229852455

some of the info in there will help you

[Rockfordk]

Thank you for that. Much appreciated. Problem does seem similar but without the large coolant loss

[cem_devecioglu]

Thanks for that. Exhaust fumes do seem to be 'steamy'. Sorry, not technical at all!  Could Heater Bypass Valve cause this to?

In a cold climate all exhausts are steamy .. so this cant be a valuable

hint..

[Rockfordk]

Thanks, I will cling to that glimmer of hope.
Not paid for the car yet. Do not need the cost of repairing a head gasket! But I suppose Christmas is the time when, if it is going to go it probably will!!!
I went on a five mile drive to the supermarket so the engine would be warm, and I was comparing my steamy exhaust fumes to other passing cars and mine did seem worse. The funny looks I got didn't help!!

[fife_omega_v6]

is it a steam train !!!!!!  i have been thinking that of mine the last couple of days

george

[jonathanh]

Thanks, I will cling to that glimmer of hope.
Not paid for the car yet. Do not need the cost of repairing a head gasket! But I suppose Christmas is the time when, if it is going to go it probably will!!!
I went on a five mile drive to the supermarket so the engine would be warm, and I was comparing my steamy exhaust fumes to other passing cars and mine did seem worse. The funny looks I got didn't help!!

and five miles will only just get it warmed up:  give it a 15 mile run at motorway speeds!  

also check the water pump: look for leaks everywhere

[Rockfordk]

Thank you for that. Not used car last couple of days. Fumes were visible through rear window, but not too excessive. When stood idling, after 5 mile trip, fumes were certainly more than usual, but again not clouding everyone out