think its headed for the graveyard...

Newbie Joined: 31 Dec 2004 Posts: 14

hi guys, first post here so be gentle...!
i've got a '93 clio rt on about 93k miles. over a 160 mile journey it seems to have lost about 2inches of water from the header tank, and now theres white smoke coming out of the front of the engine, and the idle is really lumpy, sometimes sounds like its not firing on one of its cylinders. plus theres white smoke pouring out of the exhaust. Sad

would i be over-reacting to guess that my head gasket has gone? would it go this quickly? if this is the case, theres no way i could do it myself, so anyone got an idea of how much it would cost to get a local garage to sort it (not renault!).
obviously the cars not worth that much, but cat really afford a new one!

thanks guys
worried Si

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

yep sounds like a headgasket matey.

As for a garage price, I dunno including a new cambelt and tensioner about Â£350 or somehting, Less than half that if you do it yourself.

The metal pipe that runs behind the exhaust manifold may have also rotten through causing water leak from the front.

Newbie Joined: 31 Dec 2004 Posts: 14

cheers chris, much appreciated, off to ring a mate whgo might be able to do it - gasket set for Â£35 quid already bought! is there any chance the steam coming out of the egine bay could be related by this? seems to have occurred since i changed the coolant a fortight ago...
Si

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

like I said it may be that metal pipe that runs behind the exhaust manifold but that would account for lumpy running etc.

When you flush the cooling system or even just change the coolant it can disslodge rusty scale etc which opens up metal hoses causing leaks.

Newbie Joined: 31 Dec 2004 Posts: 14

ok, brilliant, cheers. Very Happy

i was't doubting you mate, just hoping that i wouldn't have to buy something else as well! cos its a friend doing it and there arent many motor factors aroud her that are open before tuesday!
i guess ill get it done and see what happens. ill get the guy to check out the pipe while the heads off as well.
I figured its the flushing of the coolant system that has brought this problem to a head(sigh Rolling Eyes

) the only reason i saked is because it definitly wasnt throwing steam out of that area before the HG went.

if it is that pipe, is that something i could probably do myself, with my limited mechanical knowledge and a haynes manual?! or is it a nightmare job?
thanks again Chris, its greatly appreciated!
Si

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

its an easy job. Very easy with the head off as theres plenty of room then.

Newbie Joined: 31 Dec 2004 Posts: 14

Heya, maaged to get the gsket done by a friend pretty cheaply, and now everything seems a-ok. we checked out that front pipe you said about chris and it was fine, it seems the steam was coming straight out of the ENOURMOUS HOLE in the gasket!!
so thanks again Chris for all your help mate, youve made it a lot easier to diagnose and get sorted!
one last thing - with a new head gasket on is it going to need running in or anything? ive got a 160 mile motorway journey home tomorrow - is this wise, or should i keep it at a speed where the engine revs are kept really low?
cheers guys
si

Mr Quoter-vator Joined: 16 Feb 2004 Posts: 7405

if it was the HG that was the prob and it has been fitted correctly there should be no reason not to just drive normal...just drive normal and keep an eye out for rising temp and keep an eye on the water level....and that white steam should be gone.

Newbie Joined: 31 Dec 2004 Posts: 14

wicked, cheers, thought that was the case, just thought id better check before 2.5hrs at 4.5krevs...! Smile

ill stop at every service on the way and keep my 2l bottle of water handy... fingers crossed, cos if its not fixed, i really cant afford a new head!! Crying or Very sad

cheers again to everyone thats helped me sort this out, have a virtual pint on virtual me!

Si