Oil residue in coolant tank

Mlruirod

Hi all,

I've got a Corsa (2009) which has done 93000 miles. There is some oil residue in the coolant tank and also it seems the car is using a lot of coolant liquid as I have to top it up a little bit almost every week. The car is also making a rattling noise which is strong at times.

A mechanic did a diagnostic inspection and he is 90% sure the problem for having oil in the coolant tank is the timing chain gasket. But he also said that there is a chance that it can be because I need to replace the head gasket. It seems there is no visible oil or coolant leak.

Replacing the timing chain would cost me aroun 350 pounds, which I would be willing to pay if I knew that would cure the problem. However, I would be risking to fix this and then having to replace the head gasket, which I assume it will be expensive.l- I didn't ask for a total price in case the head gasket has to be replaced too😓

I don't understand about cars but a friend told me that he doesn't think the oil problem can be caused by the timing chain. Although it seems the timing chain would need to be replace anyway considering the noise the car makes.

Anyone know If it's worth fixing the timing chain or just maybe worth scrapping the car?

EdGasketTheSecond

From what you say it sounds like 90% head gasket. But try some K-Seal which might resolve it very cheaply then decide if you want to get the chain done or scrap the car.

Scrapit

Head gasket failure. Won't be cheap.

bartelbe

[QUOTEHead gasket failure. Won't be cheap.][/QUOTE]

Why do you think that? It depends on the condition of the head and how difficult it is to remove. I have changed the head gasket on a couple of cars and all it cost me is the cost of a gasket set. It took less than a day, a pro would do it far quicker. It depends on whether the engine has overheated and the head has warped or gone soft. Plus how easy it is to get the head off that engine.

Is there any white smoke from the exhaust? Tell tale sign of coolant getting into cylinders. You can also get kits to test for exhaust gases in coolant.

Don't assume it is the head. We had a car we thought had a failed gasket, mayo like coolant and loss of coolant. Turned out it was a faulty cap on the expansion bottle and condensation in coolant, as the car hadn't been driven for a whiled.

EdGasketTheSecond

What about head skim cost? On alloy heads that always needs to be done if the head gasket has gone otherwise your nice new gasket will blow again due to the warped head.

bartelbe

What about head skim cost? On alloy heads that always needs to be done if the head gasket has gone otherwise your nice new gasket will blow again due to the warped head.

You're making an assumption there, that the head is warped, not all alloy heads warp. As long as the owner caught it early enough and didn't let it overheat. If it is flat, skimming would be pointless.

On some engines a skim is the last thing you should do. On a K-series you could skim off the hardened layer and scrap the head.

Also there will be no shortage of companies that can skim a head, so prices are pretty competitive.

CiekursLV

Never ever use the stop leak stuff on anything. You will only get more problems down the road.

Probably a blown head gasket, worst case scenario a crack in the head. You should go to mechanic and ask them to remove the head and get it inspected for cracks, as its alloy head iirc its probably not warped, but may have cracked.

But most likely you will get back on track with just replacing the head gasket

Scrapit

Not many k series corsas

EdGasketTheSecond

CiekursLV wrote: »

Never ever use the stop leak stuff on anything. You will only get more problems down the road.

Probably a blown head gasket, worst case scenario a crack in the head. You should go to mechanic and ask them to remove the head and get it inspected for cracks, as its alloy head iirc its probably not warped, but may have cracked.

But most likely you will get back on track with just replacing the head gasket

I've used K-Seal; works well so long as you put it straight in the radiator and no subsequent problems. Recommended on Mercedes forums too. I bet you have never even tried it!