whitesupratt Posted March 12, 2006 Share Posted March 12, 2006 Look at this picture of my L reg Astra runaround oil cap! I picked the car up for £250 MOT and taxed, but it looks like it wasnt so cheap! Judging by the fact theres enough Mayo to make a salad Its pretty obvious the head gasket has gone. Luckily as its an old Vauxhall, I can get a gasket set for about £30, and just do it myself, but what a pain! More Supra money gone! Lets hope the head doest need skimmed tho! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dangerous brain Posted March 12, 2006 Share Posted March 12, 2006 For the £40 odd it costs to have the head skimmed is it worth it not doing it and finding out it needed doing at the end? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MONKEYmark Posted March 12, 2006 Share Posted March 12, 2006 you can get some real cheap cars on ebay.i sold my old astra for 50 quid with a months tax lol.250 quid sounds a lot for an old L reg.seems a lot of hasstle for you to go through Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnK Posted March 12, 2006 Share Posted March 12, 2006 Are you sure its the HG are there any other symptoms? You can get real thick mayo in the engine if it has only been used for short journeys and never given the chance for the engine to warm up to operating temp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitesupratt Posted March 12, 2006 Author Share Posted March 12, 2006 the last few days of driving it has been sitting in the red at 110 degrees. Then i checked the coolant level yesterday and there was NONE! So i put new coolant in it, took it down the road and then all the creamy fluid on the oil cap appeared! BUT it still drives ok, and doesnt get hot anymore. Its not too much hassle if it is the gasket, i can do it in about hour. and get e gasket for about tenner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffvalenti Posted March 12, 2006 Share Posted March 12, 2006 The heads on Vauxhalls of that era had a reputation for going porous, so it would be a good idea to have it pressure tested before sticking it all back together and finding that its no better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnK Posted March 12, 2006 Share Posted March 12, 2006 The heads on Vauxhalls of that era had a reputation for going porous, so it would be a good idea to have it pressure tested before sticking it all back together and finding that its no better Im sure this was only the early 16v heads on the XE and LET engines. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeT Posted March 12, 2006 Share Posted March 12, 2006 Im sure this was only the early 16v heads on the XE and LET engines. correct, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Headroom Posted March 12, 2006 Share Posted March 12, 2006 At the end of the day you paid 250 squid for it, the depreciation on any car is going to be way more than that. If its taxed and tested, roadworthy and you only have to pay for fuel for a year then you have a bargain not withstanding the fact you have to change a headgasket which by the sound of it will be inexpensive and a DIY jobbie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitesupratt Posted March 12, 2006 Author Share Posted March 12, 2006 Exactly, I thought for £250 taxed and tested, i can live with doing the HG. like I say, ill just do it myself tomorrow eve. Im only going to throw the car away when im done with it. Just a pain in the arse, just got the Supra fixed and healthy now, and the runaround dies! sods law! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnK Posted March 12, 2006 Share Posted March 12, 2006 My point was, make sure it is the HG before you go to the hassle of doing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitesupratt Posted March 12, 2006 Author Share Posted March 12, 2006 Oh of course! Otherwise it would just be a waste of time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JODY T Posted March 12, 2006 Share Posted March 12, 2006 it drives okay, Drive it till it dies n get another one... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitesupratt Posted March 12, 2006 Author Share Posted March 12, 2006 Until the guys on here started talking sensibly, you have no idea how literaly I was going to do that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitesupratt Posted March 15, 2006 Author Share Posted March 15, 2006 Just did the HG only took a couple of hours and £20, sorted! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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