Head Gasket blown???????????

Question

Hey, i have a 1997 Renault Megane 1.6 5dr hatch. I filled the water up in the coolant tank the other day to the max and it keeps going down but there is no sign of any leaks? Does this mean my head gasket has blown or could it just be an air lock? please help. Ive only just bought the car and the bloke i got it from said he only just had the gasket changed? Please help. Thankyou

Answer 1

Check you oil dipstick.

If when you pull out the oil dipstick and it looks like chocolate milk type mixture, then you have a blown head gasket.

The water you're pouring in must be going somewhere, if it's entering the engine, DO NOT drive the car it will damage the engine more!

Answer 2

Hi >
your answers are pretty much OK, so just to conffirm -
If the oil on the dipstick is a bit milky, with white stuff, or the radiator has any signs of oily stuff, then 9/10 the head gasket is no good.
The head may be warped, so simply a new gasket is not much use. They do that, and the only two solutions are to have the head skimmed, with a new gasket, or top it up with water & oil & sell it quick. Before other problems develop.
Not a Christian thing to do - but cash is cash..
I should not mention bunging in well shredded ladies tights into the oil, and getting it mad hot. It creates a temporary seal.
Just an old trick from my motorbike days.
All the best with the item,
Bob

Answer 3

To check for water leaks
1 remove the oil filler cap, if there is brown gunge on the inside, then water is penetrating the engine and mixing with the oil. If the head gasket has already been changed you could have a hairline fracture between the water jacket and a piston chamber or oil tube.
2. If the oil is clear, look around the water hose joints, water pump and generally around the engine for brown stains, these are water marks and indicate other leakage.
3. Still no luck, get a pressure test done on your radiator. (If you have very small punctures, the water will only leak out as pressurised steam.
4. If you suspect an air lock go to a trusted local mechanic and ask them to drain and refill the system.
5. Never ever buy a French car again.........
Hope some of this helps

Answer 4

The water going down in the expansion tank does not necessarily mean that your head gasket is gone at all.

Is the car over-heating at any point? Either when the water tank is full or empty?

An easy test, is to check whether your thermostat is stuck, as this would be the quickest test, and easy to do yourself.

Locate your thermostat and remove it, drop it into a glass of boiling water and see if the spring opens up. If it does not, then simply replace it (shouldn't cost more than a tenner) if it does open then replace it and check other possible causes.

Check ALL over for water leaks from the tank, as they may not necessarily leak on to the driveway or somewhere you can see easily, it may leak into somewhere into the engine and cause a puddle somewhere.

If it IS your head gasket, the car will DEFINITLEY overheat at all times, whether there is water in or not.

I hope it is not a gasket, as this is an expensive job to fix (you wont get it done cheaper than £800)

Good luck....if you need any more advice, drop me a line, id be glad to help.

Answer 5

Probably the head gasket, if the gasket has been changed there is a huge probability it will go again, gaskets usually fail because the cylinder head has warped, or the gasket fitted is poor quality.
I am not sure about the Megane but many cylinder heads need to be refaced on both top and bottom faces if they have distorted to prevent the Camshaft breaking.
Get a new Gasket and a reconditioned head. should have change out of £ 1000.

Answer 6

The answers are correct that if there is water in the oil it is a blown head gasket. I would think that or the water pump. Look for the water pump and check around it for water. There is also a dye that you can put in it to check for leaks. Go to your local auto parts store to see if they have it. God bless

Answer 7

Pull all your plugs and look to see if one or two of them are much cleaner than the others. If so then you have a head gasket leaking water into those cylinders.

Answer 8

Could be, especially with the comment about the gasket being changed. They may not have done the job properly. Get thee to a garage, they'll have a look and tell you for nowt.

Answer 9

It sure sounds like a head gasket to me. Do a compression test on the engine. It will tell for sure if one of the cylinders leaking.

Answer 10

Check your oil to see if there is water in it and check your water to see if there is oil in your water that will tell you if you have a blown head gasket or not. if there is no water in you oil or oil in your water then your head gasket is still good.