Head Gasket- Should I risk it???
david_hornet27 - 6/7/13 at 01:02 PM
Hi Everyone.
Just been outside making the most of the sunshine to give my van a service. It's an LDV Maxus on an 05 plate.
When I emptied the coolant it contained oil 
must have been a good litre in there!
I have had no warning that the head gasket was shot. There is no white smoke from the exhaust and no white gunk or signs of water when I changed the
oil.
For now I have flushed all the crap from the coolant system and refilled with clean water. I have also booked it in with a mate of mine to have the
head gasket replaced. Guessing it will cost me a small fortune 
My immediate problem is that I have promised to drive down to Bournemouth in the van on Monday to help a friend move house. Should I risk it? What
could be the consequences if I do? It's a 200 mile round trip, mostly motorway.
Cheers guys...
RK - 6/7/13 at 01:39 PM
Do you know the good garages on your route in question? Are you on friendly terms with RAC?
coyoteboy - 6/7/13 at 01:40 PM
I've known cars run for ages on blown head gaskets and be perfectly usable after it was replaced. I've known some fail catastrophically in
miles. 50:50!
ian locostzx9rc2 - 6/7/13 at 01:51 PM
Are you sure its a head gasket has the van got an oil cooler if it has it maybe that its failed , maybe worth a bottle of k seal in the coolant as a
temp fix!..
david_hornet27 - 6/7/13 at 02:29 PM
quote:
Originally posted by ian locostzx9rc2
Are you sure its a head gasket has the van got an oil cooler if it has it maybe that its failed , maybe worth a bottle of k seal in the coolant as a
temp fix!..
You know what? I think you might be on to something there Ian with the oil cooler! Just off out to the garage now to have a looksee... 
Left the van in a bit of a rage so hopefully can be a little more constructive now I have cooled down 
sdh2903 - 6/7/13 at 03:14 PM
I would second oil cooler if there is that much oil in the water and is not running like a bag of poo.
owelly - 6/7/13 at 04:23 PM
+1 for the oil cooler if fitted. Also, any decent mechanic wouldn't change a head gasket without checking it first, unless it was very obvious!
david_hornet27 - 6/7/13 at 04:28 PM
quote:
Originally posted by owelly
+1 for the oil cooler if fitted. Also, any decent mechanic wouldn't change a head gasket without checking it first, unless it was very obvious!
It was me that diagnosed the head gasket in a fit of rage/depression 
Pretty sure now that I have calmed down that it is the oil cooler and am trying to work out a way to bypass it.
froggy - 6/7/13 at 05:31 PM
If its a vm engine there should be two rubber hoses ,clamp them off to prove your issue first .
david_hornet27 - 6/7/13 at 05:36 PM
Thanks to all for your replies! Yes it is definitely the oil cooler, the oil in the coolant was jet black and hadn't been aerated at all and
there was too much of it to be coming through the head gasket.
Just needed you lot to talk some sense into me!
I have bypassed the oil cooler for now until I can find a replacement so hopefully it will get me to Bournemouth and back.
Once again thank you all.
froggy - 6/7/13 at 05:39 PM
Have you left the ends on the cooler blocked ?
david_hornet27 - 6/7/13 at 05:48 PM
A little hard to explain what I have done but I have joined the water in/out pipes together with U shaped copper pipe and then blocked the holes on
the cooler to stop the oil that would have leaked into the coolant leaking to the floor. Does that make sense?
Going out now so will have to test tomorrow...
froggy - 6/7/13 at 05:59 PM
Job done , I wouldn't get too worried about replacing it as I've had to do it countless times on vans and taxis they have run for years with
no issues
ian locostzx9rc2 - 7/7/13 at 11:53 AM
Glad you have it sorted