Good Afternoon, Earlier on today my Corsa began to overheat, and when I checked the water level it was very low. But I had only added coolant a few days previous! Then I noticed a pool of water below the radiator. My local mechanic reckons it could be a head-gasket problem costing upwards of £400 to sort. Does this sound right? Before I press ahead with repairs, I would like to know if you guys have experienced similar issues. Any advice will be gratefully received. Sorry for the boring thread.
Might have got a discount if you timed it with other head-gasket sufferers at the same garage; just a thought
Take off the oil cap and check to see if there are any milky looking deposits inside or around it. Same with the dipstick. If the head gasket has blown, water will be mixing with the oil and making it look milky (white). Sounds more like a cracked radiator to me. Either way, it'll cost. Changing a gasket's quite a big job, whilst changing the rad is simpler, but you'll have to pay for the new part. £400 doesn't sound bad.
I did check the oil, AR, and it seems to be a good colour with no creamy substances. Another issue is that the fan only works intermittently, so could this mean the engine has overheated to the point where a hose or something has split/cracked? I fookin' hate cars and their myriad components.
You say the pool of water is below the radiator therefore it must be coming from the radiator or one of the hoses connected to it. If it's a hose it's a simple job you could do yourself for about £20. I wouldn't trust too many mechanics having had one charge for a new exhaust part only to later find out that he'd just given it a polish.
I've had 2 cars with knackered head gaskets and the fan went on both. Same thing on my dad's car too. Any decent mechanic will verify this.
This is what my local mechanic says. I am at a loss to explain it, but apparently it is feasible. Any talk of fixing things fills me with bile. I can't even hang a picture without a lump of masonry falling on my head.
I hate the DIY myself Ponders. Us creative types are above such drudgery though. If only my wife understood that.
Its probably the other way around. The burst fan causes the overheat which ****s the gasket. I would say the 400 is optimistic. The corsa has an aluminium block which will have either warped or cracked meaning it will need skimmed or replaced. I have a car sitting with a burst cylinder head gasket mechanic reckons 700. I'm going to fix it myself for quite a bit less. But it has been sitting for over a year now while I procrastinate.
If your sceptical of the diagnosis get a hydrocarbon test done on the coolant or look for bubbles coming through the coolant system when the engine is running. Also condensation in the exhaust gas it a give away. I wouldn't expect a cylinderhead gasket to result in water leaking from the rad unless that was the cause in the first place which then made the engine run hot and caused the fan to wear out. But then I am a cad monkey not a mechanic.
how old is the car?Have serious delemma meself at the moment,spotless car but engine trouble,talkin 'bout €1000/20000 repair but for me to buy car equivalent in my mind €15,000
