10 replies to this topic

[huw_jenks]

1990 MG Metro, totally standard inc. HIF44 and electronic ignition.

I decided to set the tappets yesterday (first time since I bought it back in November) and when I took the rocker cover off I noticed there was some mayo around the front edge of the cork gasket. This is normally a sign that the head gasket is gone due to water mixing with the oil, but before I go to the trouble of taking the head off, is there anything else that could cause it?

A bit more info on the car, the last journey I did was into Welshpool and back, 7 miles each way, so the car was definitley warmed up properly. I did have a 'prang' back a few monthes ago and ever since the fan hasn't been working! I've done a bit of fault finding and the problem seems to be the fan itself, but I havnt replaced it yet. Also, the Oil/Water heat exchanger thing is disconnected because the hoses had a poor connection and were leaking. I just put the two hoses together with a connector and some jubilee clips. Anything else? Well, the clutch slips a bit, but I've got a new one to go in.

So should I be suspecting a head gasket? The last time I had one go (on my 998 Mini) it was pretty obvious as the underside of the oil cap was covered with mayo, whereas this time it's less so. I am getting a bit of smoke on start up, but performance isn't noticably down.

Ideas please!
Thanks.

[henry marchant]

it could be that you only use your car for short journeys soo the water is not being evaporated/ being burnt away thats what i was told

[myredmini]

Deffinatly sound like your head gasket to me

Dan..

[huw_jenks]

it could be that you only use your car for short journeys soo the water is not being evaporated/ being burnt away thats what i was told

Well I know that it's not good to only do short journeys and not let the oil warm up, but like I say, the last journey was 14 miles which should be plenty of time right?

[sonikk4]

Seven miles is not really enough, my wifes Polo still gets a bit of mayo and that's doing 10 miles each way and that's every day. Take the car out for a decent Italian tune up and do some decent mileage. And before anybody says the wife's car is having head gasket issues its not. It failed miserably 2 years ago requiring a skim to sort it out. It still gets mayo even now. (I Give it a good hammering once a month to clear its throat)

Both of her Polo's have had the same problem and its purely down to the limited mileage she does in it each day.

Clean it all out, check your breather then give it a good run out that should sort it out. If you are using fluids heavily then the gasket could be suspect but if its just a small amount of mayo then keep an eye on it but don't strip the head off just yet.

[huw_jenks]

Seven miles is not really enough, my wifes Polo still gets a bit of mayo and that's doing 10 miles each way and that's every day. Take the car out for a decent Italian tune up and do some decent mileage. And before anybody says the wife's car is having head gasket issues its not. It failed miserably 2 years ago requiring a skim to sort it out. It still gets mayo even now. (I Give it a good hammering once a month to clear its throat)

Both of her Polo's have had the same problem and its purely down to the limited mileage she does in it each day.

Clean it all out, check your breather then give it a good run out that should sort it out. If you are using fluids heavily then the gasket could be suspect but if its just a small amount of mayo then keep an eye on it but don't strip the head off just yet.

Thanks sonikk4, I'll try running it a bit longer and see if that clears it up at all. It doesn't seem to be using much in the way of oil or coolant, and a bit of mayo is the only symptom except some smoke on startup.

I'll be back on here if there's any complications!

[benb12]

Since the fan hasn't been coming on has the temp strayed towards the red? If you're sitting in traffic without the fan the temp will just keep going up and up.

[davejf]

it could be that you only use your car for short journeys soo the water is not being evaporated/ being burnt away thats what i was told

Well I know that it's not good to only do short journeys and not let the oil warm up, but like I say, the last journey was 14 miles which should be plenty of time right?

Not anywhere near enough, i can do 40 mile trips and with the alloy finned rocker cover and i still have traces on mayo inside the cap.

[huw_jenks]

Since the fan hasn't been coming on has the temp strayed towards the red? If you're sitting in traffic without the fan the temp will just keep going up and up.

Yeah, it hasn't been too bad though. I just drive around everywhere with the heating on!

[Carlos W]

Since the fan hasn't been coming on has the temp strayed towards the red? If you're sitting in traffic without the fan the temp will just keep going up and up.

Yeah, it hasn't been too bad though. I just drive around everywhere with the heating on!

Fix the fan, monitor coolant levels, and try to give it a good run whenever possible!

[sonikk4]

Just to add to my previous post, the smoke on start up will most likely be the valve guide oil seals worn. Not the end of the world but keep an eye on oil consumption.