Heater has stopped working - Perfect!!

Gene_Hunt_2

Stigy wrote: »

You'll also find it on the dipstick, depending on how far gone the gasket is! Some cars have creamy oil mixure on the filler cap and have perfectly okay head gaskets. Fords and Vauxhalls are terrible for this. On the Ford 1.0, 1.1 and 1.3 litre OHV engine, because of the layout of the engine, which meant air would flow/hit the top of the engine, this caused the creeamy mixture, also causing the oil breather hoses to form the same creamy substance.

Tell him how to check the p1$$ levels too.:rotfl:

pwllbwdr

If it isnt going into the oil, sounds like you have a leak. Don't drive it like that - if you haven't got HGF now you soon will have.

Alias_Omega

Ring the AA..

Rossy.

Maybe you've got a cracked radiator?

It's a rover.. Sell it on now to save massive costs.

Your time with the car has come to an end and it's time to part each other

Norman_Castle

dont check the oil with the dipstick, remove the oil filler cap and look under it, this is where you will find the creamy oil mix

I have had this from too many short runs and from a stuck open thermostat. It's condensation inside the engine and not always a sign of head gasket failure.

Gene_Hunt_2

I'd fcuking torch the thing.

Gorgeous_George

It rather depends on the car's value. IF it is a head gasket (quite possible and not a problem confined to Rovers), £500 should see a new one fitted (and a better one than those originally fitted by Rover).

If the car is worth less than £1,000 I'd probably get rid and buy something else.

When the water system is working properly, the engine heats the water. When the engine reaches 80 degrees (or thereabouts) a thermostat opens to allow water to flow through the radiator to help stop the engine overheating. At 95 degrees, a switch operates to start the fan (it is this fan that can run on after the engine is switched off - to cool the engine). The fan should rarely operate in Winter.

Switching to 'Hot' for cabin heaters allows the hot water to flow through the heater matrix. This is used to heat the cabin. A stuck valve could stop the water getting to the matrix but, as you have coolant loss, it is more likely that you are losing water (no shirt Sherlock!). This could be being lost through a damaged hose but the head gasket scenario is possible. A failed head gasket might not contaminate the oil - depends if the failure is between the oil system and coolant system. It could be between the coolant system and atmosphere. Either way, if it is the head gasket, £500 to repair or change the car.

A failing head gasket could last months before it totally fails. It could fail tonight. Keep the coolant topped up and be prepared for a breakdown (charged mobile phone, breakdown cover, warm clothes, food and drink etc.).

There are plenty of decent cars for sale at £1,000-ish levels but you need to know what you are looking for (or take a friend who does). You don't want to buy trouble. Someone could be selling a car with a head gasket problem

Be safe.

ps - I love my MG ZS

GG

Gene_Hunt_2

Gorgeous_George wrote: »

If the car is worth less than £1,000 I'd probably get rid and buy something else.

:rotfl::rotfl: :rotfl:

Are you stupid?

The car is a W reg Rover 25. There is no way it's worth more.

SOMERPORT

Had similar issues, put Steelseal (around £30) in approx 3 months ago and so far car still running okay

Inactive

Gorgeous_George wrote: »

There are plenty of decent cars for sale at £1,000-ish levels

There are, as long as they don't have a Rover badge on them.