I think my head gasket has failed

O

oli445

Senior member
I have been losing coolent at the rate of 1 litre per 250 miles and my Z has always drunk around 1 litre of oil per 1000 miles (now on 117k). Thinking my coolent was a minor problem or a crack in the expansion tank I wasn't to concerned until I went to top up the oil and discovered this:

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Can anyone confirm my suspicionss? I do 30 mile runs twice a day so I don't think it's just condensation but there's nothing on the dipstick :(
 
You shouldn't be losing coolant at any rate really. 1 litre per 250 miles is a lot so there's a definite problem. 30 miles isn't really enough to get the engine to normal temp but it should be enough to prevent gunk imho.

Does the exhaust emit anything when running (after the start up period) as loss of coolant at that rate should show some physical sign at the exhaust too. In any event I think its time to get it into the shop and have a pro look over it.
 
Some Mayo could just be condensation not unusual on a car thats getting used for short runs. Check the expansion tank for signs of mayo also the oil.Is it running hot ? Check for any signs of a leak. Good luck hope this helps ! :thumbsup:
 
Thanks for the replies, I have jumped to the worse conclusion and plan on getting it in my local garage ASAP. Engine has been running at normal temps (according to water temp gauge). I am running LPG but that shouldn't make any difference other than the likely hood of a leak from the coolent system
 
i would have thought 30 miles was enough to warm the engine . i do single figures mainly in mine & no gunk or oil/water usage .
that kind of fluid consumption should be noticed out the back :cry: ie / smoky ?
certainly seems like head gasket .
is the heater functioning as it should ?
 
I,de be surprised at a headgasket problem.....change the coolant expansion tank cap if you cant find a leak anywhere else, another source of a slow leak can be the temp sender 'O' ring in the bottom rad hose...... you cant buy a new o ring from BMW .
And I,de replace the PCV valve and all the hoses too....as that can exacerbate that mayo on the oil filler cap and also cause high oil consumption
 
oli445 said:
Thanks slick, what's the PCV valve?
Click to expand...

http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=BT32&mospid=47796&btnr=11_2194&hg=11&fg=15

Thats a link to realoem......the PCV is part number 1 but to change it you,l need all those rubber pipes too as they go brittle and break if you disturb them

as an aside theres an insulated PCV for the Canadian market sadly probably not available in the UK
 
Do you know a garage/mechanic you trust?
If so, I'd recommend seeing them as they'll probably do a couple of tests (if I'm wrong on any of these, someone more knowledgeable is bound to chip in!)
1. Compression test on all cylinders (I think this is where they connect a gauge to where the spark plug screws in) - if a cylinder doesn't hold pressure, there's a leak.
2. There's some sort of gas test they do on the coolant - they check for gases (I think its for some of whatever you'd get out the exhaust) present in the expansion tank, indicated by a colour change.
As far as I know these checks shouldn't cost that much to perform.

If the test results are negative then you've probably got mayonnaise from condensation on your oil-cap and a coolant leak somewhere.

I hope this helps, again I hope I haven't misinformed! Good luck!
 
There has been the odd bit of chatter about that mayo type gunk in the oil filler cap and the conclusion seems to be that it is quite typical. especially if you do lots of short runs.

Mine had something similar - till i wiped it off.
 
Greeno said:
There has been the odd bit of chatter about that mayo type gunk in the oil filler cap and the conclusion seems to be that it is quite typical. especially if you do lots of short runs.

Mine had something similar - till i wiped it off.
Click to expand...

That's why I'm concerned, I do 60 miles a day, 30 there and 30 back as stated
 
Dev said:
Do you know a garage/mechanic you trust?
If so, I'd recommend seeing them as they'll probably do a couple of tests (if I'm wrong on any of these, someone more knowledgeable is bound to chip in!)
1. Compression test on all cylinders (I think this is where they connect a gauge to where the spark plug screws in) - if a cylinder doesn't hold pressure, there's a leak.
2. There's some sort of gas test they do on the coolant - they check for gases (I think its for some of whatever you'd get out the exhaust) present in the expansion tank, indicated by a colour change.
As far as I know these checks shouldn't cost that much to perform.

If the test results are negative then you've probably got mayonnaise from condensation on your oil-cap and a coolant leak somewhere.

I hope this helps, again I hope I haven't misinformed! Good luck!
Click to expand...

+1 wot Dev said, compression and coolant test will give an answer cheaply.

Mayo can build quickly in larger engines and a collection like that won't shift on a steady 30 mile commute for example. Fortunately mayo is only one possible symptom of a blown HG (and I've had many over the years :cry: ) in the absence of it overheating and chucking water out of the expansion tank by now my guess would be a leak. But any coolant leak on alloy engines needs to be taken seriously, even if your temp is within range air locks in and around channels can cause local overheating and stresses.
 
I have had it in the garage today and it turns out there is a part next to the water pump with a sensor in it that is leeking. They are going to ring on Monday and tell me how much $$$.

Anyone any idea what part it could be?
 
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