Vauxhall Astra Cylinder Head Gasket : need educating!?

Question

My car has been losing coolant for a few weeks now, but hasn't overheated beyond that point where the fan cuts in and everything cools down. A couple of days ago it started misfiring and today the AA have diagnosed a possible Cylinder Head Gasket failure. The engine appears to hold pressure, then suddenly lose it, repeatedly. It causes it to misfire and run lumpy. Inbetween misfires, it runs as smoothly as it ever did, so should I anticipate damage to the internals of the cylinder?

I'm wondering which came first, the Gasket failure or the Coolant loss? Is it possible that the Gasket has been failing and so causing the coolant loss (the water has appeared to be "muddy" in the expansion tank), or is it more probable that the coolant loss is from somewhere else and has caused the failure of the Gasket? I'm confused, as you can tell. I'm wary of turning up at a garage and, as a female, being blinded with science!

Also, if anyone has any idea on probable cost, I'd be grateful.

Answer 1

leakage,muddy coolant,misfires all are indications of a leaking head gasket....known to crack a cylinder head,destroy a piston...call a dealer or go on line chiltons flat rate manual
look up your make model engine size go to head gasket ..it will tell you how many hours it takes to do the job find out how much the shop charges an hour ...do the math

Answer 2

I'll try to keep the explanation easy for you, with respect, It dose sound like the head gasket has failed, although not to the point of completely stopping the car alltogether, "yet", the head gasket has probably blown "across the bores" (between two or more pistons inside the cylinder head), not visable just by looking in the bonnet for leaks. If this is the cause, then water would be seeping into the engine, and as a result, would build up pressure from within the engine, as a result the pressure would then force the water through it's system until it reaches the expansion tank again, "like a reverse flow", the "muddy" look of the water is probably from the engine, "build up of rust/wear from use, "Normal", over a time, However, some of the dangers of continued use are, the enginge can fail / seize up, crack the cylinder block,"engine", warp the cylinder head or crack it depending on type of head, (alliminiumn or cast iron), etc, etc, "Tip", check your engine oil level stick to see if there is water mixed with the oil, this usually explains the previous mentioned faults, if both are present. also if your oil level has "increased", this is also a sign of water or other contaminent in the engine. "the level should not increase". i hope this is helpfull to you, i suggest you have it checked out soon though. good luck,best wishes.

Answer 3

Click this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_gasket

It will answer ALL your questions about head gaskets.
It has pictures and everything.