Suspected Head Gasket Gone!

ShandyAndy_2

I have an 2000 Astra estate 1.7 dti (isuzu). I mainly do short journeys, work is 6 miles away. Yesterday I did around 15 miles and bear in mind it was only 1c outside temperature, the gauge had shot up by the time I pulled outside my house, then the fans came on.

I do work for vauxhall parts dept and mechanics at work said straight away it sounds like head gasket as theres also mayonaise on the header tank cap and the water is like grey sludge,but its been like that a while,maybe has just got worse and worse?. Theres no water in the oil though.

So do I weigh it in and cut my losses now or run for a while, bear in mind I only usually do short journeys. I paid £150 for the car 2 n half years ago as a trade in with a bit rough bodywork but full service history and when I bought it had full m.o.t and just been serviced so was a bargain. Last m.o.t I paid around £500 to get it through due to all the brake pipes being corroded.

Just spent £186 getting the alternator replaced a couple of weeks ago, my gut reaction is to run it for a bit whilst looking around for something else, as its still taxed until end july and m.o.t until end august.

What do I buy next? preferably want estate car but not that fussed, must be 5 doors and cheap to run, and less than £500. Want something that will sail through m.o.ts. I'm thinking something japanese.

forgotmyname

If you but another car will you ever service it?

Even £150 cars need servicing. They can last forever if they have a service every now and then.

TrickyWicky

Yeah but even servicing won't stop a failing head gasket from failing so that shoots down that point (sorry).

You are right that all cars need servicing though and the cheaper they are the more they often need of it!

Quinny_2

A car of £500 vintage is, in the main, unlikely to "sail through the mot."

For £500, I would look at a Peugeot 406 estate if you want something similar. 406's are capable of great mileages if they are serviced, and you tend not to see any rusty ones about, bodywork wise.

Yes you'll get the naysayers on, who will constantly bleat on about French cars, but I have owned a 406, and it was without doubt the best and most reliable car I have ever owned, so much so, I'm contemplating getting another soon if I can find a good one.

colino

The mayo inside the header tank certainly points to oil in the water, but that may be historical. As you treat it like a dog, maybe it has no antifreeze in it, you had no circulation and the (hottest) top end, where the temp sensor, is indicated you what was going on there but was short enough not to do any (new) damage.
The suzy engine is very tough and a lot ot uncaring drivers don't notice anything is wrong until the beast can't start due to lack of compression.
Run it into the ground, sell the newset bits on ebay and scrap it for £100+.

ShandyAndy_2

forgotmyname wrote: »

If you but another car will you ever service it?

Even £150 cars need servicing. They can last forever if they have a service every now and then.

When did I mention that I haven't serviced it? It has been serviced every year since I've had it and had cambelt kit changed, I also check water,tyres and oil every week!.

ShandyAndy_2

colino wrote: »

The mayo inside the header tank certainly points to oil in the water, but that may be historical. As you treat it like a dog, maybe it has no antifreeze in it, you had no circulation and the (hottest) top end, where the temp sensor, is indicated you what was going on there but was short enough not to do any (new) damage.
The suzy engine is very tough and a lot ot uncaring drivers don't notice anything is wrong until the beast can't start due to lack of compression.
Run it into the ground, sell the newset bits on ebay and scrap it for £100+.

It has always had oil in the water, never wanted to flush it as it could turn the engine into a teabag, I don't treat it like a dog either, it has been topped up with antifreeze in past. It has been struggling to start recently from cold though and needs a bit of throttle to start but thats maybe because its an old diesel and its winter!.

Its taxed till end july and mot till end august so got a bit of time to look for something else whilst I run the nail into the ground.

forgotmyname

theres also mayonaise on the header tank cap and the water is like grey sludge,but its been like that a while

Doesnt sound like a vehicle thats well serviced to me.

Mayo in the oil yet your still use it like that???

Grey sludge is not know for its superior cooling qualities. So yes i do think a lack of servicing played a part if the failure.

TrickyWicky

Quinny wrote: »

A car of £500 vintage is, in the main, unlikely to "sail through the mot."

Steady on, mine did!

The second time it failed on a duff brake caliper. I fitted another one, retested and it passed.

It really does depend on the type of car you go for.

hethmar

Have you checked out Skoda Fabia estates?

ShandyAndy_2

forgotmyname wrote: »

Doesnt sound like a vehicle thats well serviced to me.

Mayo in the oil yet your still use it like that???

Grey sludge is not know for its superior cooling qualities. So yes i do think a lack of servicing played a part if the failure.

Mayo in the oil? when was that ever said? theres mayo in the water!, your assumptions astound me, if you've nothing good to say don't say it at all!

And since when is changing coolant part of a service?