Head Gasket Gone?? How do I tell???

[Wolf]

As far as I know I should be looking for the oil to turn milky where water is getting in but it isn't..

 

But I do have some white smoke or steam at start up until warm (and flecks of black water on my hand if I hold it over the pipe) but nothing when warm...

 

What's worrying though is the fact that the car uses loads of water - it could be that there is a silly chrome bottle for the overflow and maybe it just pisses out - never over heats though..

 

So head gasket gone or am I just worrying too much??

[heckler]

As far as I know I should be looking for the oil to turn milky where water is getting in but it isn't..

 

But I do have some white smoke or steam at start up until warm (and flecks of black water on my hand if I hold it over the pipe) but nothing when warm...

 

What's worrying though is the fact that the car uses loads of water - it could be that there is a silly chrome bottle for the overflow and maybe it just pisses out - never over heats though..

 

So head gasket gone or am I just worrying too much??

 

If its just a light whispy white smoke - thats normal

 

Could be the RAD cap, i belive they can break down and allow water to escape - CW replaced mine for that reason

 

I'm sure someone with better info will be along soon

[Toms Supra]

But I do have some white smoke or steam at start up until warm (and flecks of black water on my hand if I hold it over the pipe) but nothing when warm...

 

Completely normal just moisture in exhaust.

 

You must have a leak somewhere mate, if it was head gasket it would pressurise alot, the car would just boil over and mayo inside the oil cap.

[darren j adams]

Some car shops sell tester kits,if not some mechanics can test the water and tell if combustion contamination has occured,or try leak down test with good mechanic.

d.

[merckx]

What's worrying though is the fact that the car uses loads of water - it could be that there is a silly chrome bottle for the overflow and maybe it just pisses out - never over heats though..

 

If you cannot see the water dripping out of the engine externally ,need to check water pump leaks, radiator and overflow tank, water pipes. Also the heater matrix which is behind the dashboard on the passenger side can leak.

 

Then I would suspect the cylinder head, you normally get mayonnaise type gunge accumulating under the oil filler cap and on the dipstick.

 

If you're losing a lot of water you'll get steam coming out of the exhaust when the engine is hot, also you'll lose power from the engine.

[JohnA]

A leakdown test will show immediately if that's the case.

You'll see bubbles coming off the water tank.