water loss

hi all,my dauter has a x reg 1800cc petrol freelander,she told me that it is using water but none running out anywhere, i think i will be a head gaskit or could it be something else, Jim.

Sounds like a head gasket to me
Dip the oil to see if there is any traces of water in it and see if there is any traces of oil in the header tank of the cooling system.
If in doubt, don't run the engine as you could warp the head. Warped head = more expense.

Don't write the old thing off yet ! Part of owning a 1.8 petrol is staying optimistic in the face of certain catastrophe around the corner. Went out to check the coolant level in my wifes the other day to find nothing in expansion tank. Topped it up and thankfully there seemed no sign of any oil in coolant or mayo in oil. Kept losing coolant but couldn't see any leaks of significance, but was very wet weather so couldn't see if anything was dripping on to floor. Until dry enough to take a look underneath situation was managed by me sticking a large note on the steering wheel warning my wife that she must check the coolant level before and after each journey and if she allowed engine to overheat her next car would be a Maestro that I had seen for sale. Got underneath on a dry day and after normal fun of getting engine plate off, discovered it was leaky clip joint on coolant rail. Too fiddly for me without an inspection pit but the garage who did it had a laugh because my wife forgot to take the note off steering wheel when she took it in.

Fine since (but everthing still crossed!)

in my opinion the surest way to DIY test for head gasket failure is to see if the coolent hoses go rock hard straight after starting a cold engine - oil in water & water in oil all have certail specific presumtions which may or no be met whilst a pressurised coolant tract is almost a cert. HTH.

have you checked in yer cubby box yet??

slob said:

have you checked in yer cubby box yet??

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i bet its full of all the water he lost

nije said:

in my opinion the surest way to DIY test for head gasket failure is to see if the coolent hoses go rock hard straight after starting a cold engine - oil in water & water in oil all have certail specific presumtions which may or no be met whilst a pressurised coolant tract is almost a cert. HTH.

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can we say bollocks on here??

i think so

ok thanks ..... in that case, what a load of old bollocks..

couldn't agree more, in my opinion the easiest way to check if yer headgasket has gone is to check yer oil and water

and don't firgit the bubbles in the coolant

There is no sure way to detect the H,G failing ,as rule of thumb 6 fails , compression to water [yes this will make your hoses rock hard and could have steam from tail pipe] compression to oil [milky foam in oil] water to outside engine [over heating can see the leak out of side of engine] water to oil [very milky oil]oil to water [rare] oil in water, but you can have 2,3,4 5and6 in combinations, but if you've got the bottle to do it ,tighten your H G bolts in the correct combination by another half turn , can save you a lot of grief [or snap ya bolts] its your call. . .