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[ians]

2 pints is significant - assuming you check it regularly.

Try sitting in the car with it running up to temperature.  

Then try setting it to min and max temp with AC (Auto) on and off (so 4 combinations in all).   Let it run for a few minutes at each setting, hop out and look for leaks/drips from behind the engine on the drivers side.

[Black Knight]

I'd be suprised if it was the head gasket at that mileage.

Stick with it mate, I can promise you can sort it for less than what Vx quoted you, probably quite a lot less!!

[Wayne]

i have no leaks or anything just ckecked

i have emptied the coolant tank completely and am about to re-fill it with 5 litres of the red stuff, do i just puur the whole lot in? how much water do i add once the red stuff is in?

i have also checked the oil dipstick and the oil is simply black, i cant see any creamy gunk on it, what colour is this gunk stuff?

[Wayne]

how do you know IF the head gasket has gone or not?
incase the VX idiots are lying to me

would i get no heat IF there was water in the coolant tank but hardly any anti-freeze? maybe i just need more of the red stuff?

there might be a leak somewhere but i cant see any wetness anywhere, apart from behind my ears!  LOL

[ians]

black is not good, but not as bad as cream coloured - you'll know it if you see it.  (black means you need to do more frquent oil changes )

Whilst doing a coolant change is no bad thing, it is unlikely to solve the problem.

To do it thoroughly you need to flush out with fresh water a few times.  Basically the system takes about 10L, but you will only get 5L out - so you need to repeatedly flush with fresh water until whats left in is near as damn it pure water.  Then pour in your can of red stuff - not diluted. You should get all of it in just about.  If a bit more topping up is needed to get it up to the mark then use clean water.

But this is not the solution to your problem..  we need to work out where the coolant is going.

[Wayne]

Vauxhall told me they did that pressure test and IF it goes yellow then it means the gasses are going into the water system, meaning Head Gasket has gone or is going...

i just cant tell if they are lying to me or not

anyone on here work for Vauxhall?

[Wayne]

can i just stick a hose in the coolant tank with the engine off and flush it out that way until just water comes out?

[RobG]

If no visible leaks I`d suggest another pressure test by someone who know`s what they`re actually doing and more importantly, what they`re looking for.

[Wayne]

where else could i take it for a Pressure test? any garage?
Vauxhall charged me £29 for it,  why would they do this test on my car when i simply took it in for an "im not getting any hot air from my heater only cold"

[RobG]

can i just stick a hose in the coolant tank with the engine off and flush it out that way until just water comes out?

Expansion cap OFF. Rad drain valve OPEN. When finished draining, CLOSE rad valve. Fill system, cap ON,heater on HOT, FANS maximum. Run engine few minutes. Keep repeating until you get clear water running from rad valve.

[CBH]

I was told by VX that my HG was gone and it was the waterpump shaft slipping, new waterpump fixed it and I have 75K since then.
So don't believe the main steelers.
Keep looking and I sure you will fix it
good luck
cbh

[Wayne]

guys!!

just done a full coolant flush and re-fill

i have fixed the heat problem and you wont believe how!
doing the coolant change made ZERO difference
still doesn't explain IF my head gasket has gone or is going!
i wish i knew IF Vauxhall were lying or not

anyway, here is what i did to get heat all the time, click here to see that i removed just ONE of the Vacuum Pipes, here you can see it taken off
look through these pictures until you get to the pictures i took of the vacuum pipe taken off,
this particular pipe is the ONLY one that makes a difference when its off!
there are also some pics of my lovely (possibly dead car) in its not bad condition
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=239208&id=623190360&l=c96a13b091

however, why the hell is it that when i re-connect it i don't get any heat at all?
its not my imagination, i have tested it for the 60 minutes, taken it on and off about 25 times!!
when i re-connect the pipe on every occasion and put the heat on, i dont get any at all, when i take the pipe off i get heat everytime!
its just a Vacuum pipe! isnt it?
what does it have to do with the heating system?

[tunnie]

am I the only one thinking hbv? if that's faulty and not sending water to the matrx, that would cause no heat, plus if its leaking....

[Lizzie_Zoom]

am I the only one thinking hbv? if that's faulty and not sending water to the matrx, that would cause no heat, plus if its leaking....

No you are not Tunnie, and I have been thinking that for most of this thread.  Just a bit scared with me saying HBV everytime a member has water trouble!!

[tunnie]

wayne, do you have any history of the hbv (heater bypass valve) being changed?