I have had a small oil leak on my 98 4.0 GEMS engine for a little while but had been unable to locate the source, I initially thought it was just simply the sump gasket as I could see the oil dripping from the sump. Unfortunately this proved to be incorrect as when I was replacing the drivers side air spring I removed the wheel arch lining and there could see the leak from the rear of the head gasket.
I have also had a coolant leak which saw me replacing about 500ml of coolant every few times I went out in the car. I'm not sure if this is linked to the head gasket as I don't seem to have some of the normal characteristics that would be associated to coolant leaking into the head. When I have checked the coolant pipes they do not seem hard at all and can easily be squeezed together and there does not appear to be any oil residue in the coolant header tank either. When looking in the drivers footwell there does appear to be some white residue (I will include a picture below to show what I mean) so could this coolant leak just be the heater O rings/heater matrix issue?
I have only replaced a head gasket on 1 car previously and that was with the assistance of a much more experienced DIY mechanic than myself so I just wanted to ask if there is anything I should also be replacing/inspecting while I am replacing the head gaskets. Also if anyone has any tips or advice for this job then they would be greatly appreciated as well, for example if anyone has any recommendations on which head gasket kit to buy. I seem to remember reading something about getting a "Elring" gasket set, not suer if that is correct but again any advice on that would be great.
I have also had a coolant leak which saw me replacing about 500ml of coolant every few times I went out in the car. I'm not sure if this is linked to the head gasket as I don't seem to have some of the normal characteristics that would be associated to coolant leaking into the head. When I have checked the coolant pipes they do not seem hard at all and can easily be squeezed together and there does not appear to be any oil residue in the coolant header tank either. When looking in the drivers footwell there does appear to be some white residue (I will include a picture below to show what I mean) so could this coolant leak just be the heater O rings/heater matrix issue?
I have only replaced a head gasket on 1 car previously and that was with the assistance of a much more experienced DIY mechanic than myself so I just wanted to ask if there is anything I should also be replacing/inspecting while I am replacing the head gaskets. Also if anyone has any tips or advice for this job then they would be greatly appreciated as well, for example if anyone has any recommendations on which head gasket kit to buy. I seem to remember reading something about getting a "Elring" gasket set, not suer if that is correct but again any advice on that would be great.
