I work from home, so it's like the typical old lady "once a week to the shops and back". Up hill all the way there, down hill all the way back. I like to think I'm a sensible - if boring - driver.The head warps in the event of an Overheat, in my case the K series FL1 i had was fine with just a new headgasket
You could do a sniff test to narrow it down..
What kind of driving are you doing?
In that case it could be just condensation in the engine.I work from home, so it's like the typical old lady "once a week to the shops and back". Up hill all the way there, down hill all the way back. I like to think I'm a sensible - if boring - driver.
I think I've driven her maybe a dozen times this year...
Beat me to it.In that case it could be just condensation in the engine.
Could well be if it's only a bit, still need to know why the coolant needed topping up thoughBeat me to it.
I drained the coolant when changing the inlet manifold a couple of weeks ago. Refilled it at the time, bled it as per Haynes, and drove it about 10 miles since then.Could well be if it's only a bit, still need to know why the coolant needed topping up though
No, nothing like that.I agree with the others, if you are worried about it do a sniffer test, but I'm presuming you aren't seeing any of the other signs of a head gasket, like drastic overheating, over pressurisation of the coolant system bubbling up etc, so its most likely fine.
If it only does short trips, then condensation is more likely than a HG. Do you know where the coolant is going? The inlet manifold seal is known to let coolant into the engine. This can give similar symptoms of a failing HG, but isn't so difficult to fix. If the HG elastopolymer has started to de-laminate, then coolant can get into the coolant, but unless the engine has overheated, a simple HG replacement should restore it to working condition, providing the liners and head are in spec.In that case it could be just condensation in the engine.
I changed the inlet manifold a few weeks ago, adding a new inlet manifold gasket when I refitted it. The manifold itself was brand new.If it only does short trips, then condensation is more likely than a HG. Do you know where the coolant is going? The inlet manifold seal is known to let coolant into the engine. This can give similar symptoms of a failing HG, but isn't so difficult to fix. If the HG elastopolymer has started to de-laminate, then coolant can get into the coolant, but unless the engine has overheated, a simple HG replacement should restore it to working condition, providing the liners and head are in spec.
There are only 1/2 a dozen joints where coolant can leak from on the 1.8.I don't know where the leak is yet. I need to jack her up as I can't see a leak from the top.
You take the head off and measure them. It's not difficult, needing just a straight edge and feeler gauges.How do I know if the liners are in spec?
Definitely no mayo on the dipstick. Check the oil in her regularly, so would have seen it by now.Have you checked the dipstick for mayo? If not the HG is probably OK. The K series is known to loose coolant from the water pump so worth checking there.