not the head gasket, not the head gasket, not the head gasket....

Hi all,
Ok so I'm losing coolant - sometimes....I've browsed around for advice and some makes sense, some doesn't fit my observations, I'm being blindly optimistic. So here goes:

Engine cold start - can't detect any flow back into the coolant reservoir, not sure exactly what I'm looking for but it seems still.
Hard to tell if coolant contaminated, I'm topping it up after nearly every trip.

Engine does lose a bit of oil but I think it's just leaky in other areas. No mess on the oil cap.

Engine warmed up on a drive -
Coolant splashed all over the exhaust, spray seems to be in the vicinity of the p-gasket. (I had that changed a year ago when I thought I had a leak already in this area, but looking at it now it only looks like a paper gasket was used - had the garage do it while changing timing belt) Not sure about some overflow hole in this area? anyone know how this works?
Coolant reservoir level has gone up this time - not always - opening immediately after stopping there are a few (not many) bubbles visible. Some pressure in the reservoir. On warmer days I have found coolant around the top of the reservoir bottle which I presume is over pressurization of the coolant system (I don't want to admit anything yet).
Keeping the revs on their does seem to be extra mechanical noise in the water pump area to normal - I'm wondering if the pump is damaged?

Heating has always been rock steady, never noticed it blowing cold.
Temperature gauge sits straight up, occasionally i think slightly to the right but it's been like that for the last 7 years.

On a side note my viscous fan shouldn't come on right at start up should it?

I thought I'd got past sorting out all the problems from when I'd bought it I've a lounge with goodies waiting to fit (including full size inter-cooler) but don't want to put any more stress on a poorly engine.

Any help appreciated,

Andy

Hi,

What Engine?

Cheers

neilly said:

Hi,

What Engine?

Cheers

Click to expand...

I'm guessing a 300tdi. Sounds like it's got a leaking p gasket regardless of what the garage did. Oem fitment is a metal one not a paper one. They only cost a couple of quid and it's half a dozen bolts to swap. I always use a smear of hylomar blue when I do them.
Worst case scenario a head gasket isn't that expensive

Viscous will come on at a cold start, after a few minutes faster spinning it will then start to freewheel once the fluid inside frees up. If the engine then gets hot enough it will start to lock up again.

cheers guys, ok so p-gasket is a good start.
There i was trying to be all factual and forgot to say what engine d'oh. 300tdi correctly guessed.

If I were you I would also check the thin pipe that goes from the thermostat housing to the top of the radiator to the reservoir. See if it's blocked. The rising levels in the reservoir could be due to blockage in that pipe.