My little 205 turbo derv is having some problems, think it could be the start of headgasket problems. Used about a litre of coolant over about 200 miles, it doesnt overheat, and there is no mayo under the oil cap, if you run it hot with the rad cap off, there are a few little bubbles that over about 5 minutes leave a foam ring around the neck.
Is it usual for the headgasket to go, or is it likely to be more serious? Just so as i know weather to buy a gasket set, or a new unit?
Any help greatly appriciated guys
Jas

[Edited on 2/6/10 by Jasongray5]

if theres no water in the oil, what about a knackered water pump or radiator?

no puddles underneith her? and have checked all the pipes are nice and tight with no splits?

my bmw's the same. say for example the very top of the rad is split somewhere, it won't leak water, just steam.
my car doesn't over heat (i just know when the coolant's low when the heater stops working), no water in oil etc. but i have seen its a bit leaky round the top of the expansion bottle, which is part of the radiator

[Edited on 2/6/10 by blakep82]

does yours bubble slightly in the expansion tank too?

never actually checked that. i tend to just throw some water in and let it get on with it lol

Head gasket failure is relatively common on the XUD at higher mileages. It's not a very nice job to replace it either.

If you know someone with a block tester or take it to a garage that has one they can test if the bubbles you are seeing in the header tank is exhaust gas.

The 1.8 isnt an xud i dont think. Take the cover off and see if the water pumps leaking could be drying before it puddles. if not then id say HG.

Its an XUD7TE i think. Will pop the cover off after lunch!

Cheers for the advise guys

To check for an invisible external leak do a pressure test when cold. Pump it up till the pressure cap is almost ready to lift.

Usually you can't spot smal leaks because the coolant flashes off to steam without leaving any wettness.

My pressure tester was made from a garden sprayer and a nylon "tee" bought from B&Q.

Iirc it should go to about 8-12 psi. It's somewhere in that region.

cheers for all your help guys, im taking her to a friends garage tomorow. Doing a compression test and then he reckons on some chemical test of the coolant to see if there is exhasut gas in there?

Cheers again, Jas

Has it been hot at all? The XUD engines were among the best diesels of their time & can go to silly mileages with decent maintainance but they do not like to be hot. They tend to crack the steel combustion chamber from the alloy head allowing combustion pressure to enter the water jacket. Same symptoms as a head gasket going but needs a fresh head.

not while ive had it, light has never come on and it has no guage. Then again, I havent had it all that long?