9 replies to this topic

[Noll]

I was just wondering, has my headgasket gone?

 

I've noticed that there is a lil bit of mayo in the oil cap and I have been losing a bit of coolant.

The engine is also running around 32 mpg and seems a lil down on power, but not much.

 

Is it safe to say the head gasket has gone?

Obviously if it has, I'd get the head skimmed, but is there any way of checking without taking the head off and looking?

 

Thanks

 

[cal844]

yes, go to a garage and ask to have it pressurised, it will tell you 

 

A. if you have a leak in the coolant system

 

B. if the gasket has gone(pressurise the cooling system up then start the car, if the engine 'locks' or struggles to fire theres your answer!)

[Craig89]

Also if the head gasket has gone it is not always essential to have the head skimmed. Minis have cast iron heads which very rarely warp

[tiger99]

I tend to disagree. They do not warp as readily as ali heads, which almost all modern cars have, and those almost always need skimming. However, if an A or A+ blows its gasket, it is usually due to one (or more) of four reasons, head improperly torqued up, head warped, poor quality gasket, or engine overheated badly. (Overheated or improperly torqued can also result in a warped head, of course.) If it is known not to have overheated or had a gasket change recently, I would suspect that the head has indeed warped and have it skimmed lightly as a precaution. Otherwise you may be doing the job again soon, and while a head gasket change on a Mini is a relatively quick and simple job, it costs time and money every time, so if you can get a very light skim done locally at a decent price it often makes better economic sense to have it done.

[Vipernoir]

Get the head checked for flat rather than just going for a skim as a matter of routine.

 

Anything less than about 1½ thou out of flat and it's good to go again.

[Carlos W]

Do you tend to do a lot of short journeys in your car?

 

Have you checked for external leaks? Any sweet smell when you use the heater?

 

Short journeys mean the engine does not get hot enough to get rid of condensation and therefore you get the mayo type residues!

[Rog46]

Do you tend to do a lot of short journeys in your car?
 
Have you checked for external leaks? Any sweet smell when you use the heater?
 
Short journeys mean the engine does not get hot enough to get rid of condensation and therefore you get the mayo type residues!

I agree a head gasket gone is NOT the only only reason for Mayo - check the other options first!

[Tamworthbay]

Take it for a long run and look for leaks = cheap and easy

Strip the head, get it skimmed, new gaskets and oil = expensive and hassle

I would always do the simple and cheap things first, at the least to rule them out.

[jaydee]

It may be blocked breathers causing mayo issues, especially if its a small bore engine.

[Noll]

Cheers guys, will look a few options etc and I'll check back