Head gasket failure or paranoia?

[sbloxxy]

My 944 S2 is testing my patience at the minute. What do you make of this: (some of thses symptons may or may not be related:
A few days ago, I noticed the temperaute gauge creeping up, then as either the thermostat opened or the fans cut in, it dropped again only to creep up again til the cycle repeated itself. Checked the coolant level which was very low, even though I had checked this a couple of days before. Topped it up but 60 miles or so later and I've got the same problem and the coolant level is low again. While checking for leaks from the system (none that I can see) and with the engine still hot, I noticed a fair amount of smoke/steam escaping from the oil filler cap. Upon restarting the car, it struggled as though fighting against compression and I detected a small misfire, which cleared a few seconds later. What do you reckon? Does this sound like a headgasket problem or am I barking up the wrong tree? If it is head gasket, what sort of job is that to do?

 

[Fen]

Is there any evidence of water in the oil?

When you say it struggled when starting and seemed to misfire that was hot? Does it miss or run on 3 cylinders when started from cold.

What you describe could well be a failed head gasket but it could be something else too (water pump for example?)

 

[sbloxxy]

Hi Fen, actually now you mention it, I have had a very small misfire from cold but I know it needs new plug leads so I put it down to that.

Andrew, sounds like a big job that I just don't have either the time or inclination to do myself so I'll have to farm it out.

 

[Fen]

It does sound HG. My symptoms were losing coolant, misfire when cold and then water found in the oil.

 

[sbloxxy]

So what causes the head gasket to go? Is it overheating (which I haven't had before this problem) or can it be just old age - mine's done 155k. Is there anything else I should get done at the same time as the head gasket?

 

[chrisdenton]

Is there anything else I should get done at the same time as the head gasket?

Cam chain and tensioner?

 

[Fen]

It's quite common on Turbos especially if they have had the boost tweaked even slightly but not so much on S2s. Probably just down to the gasket degrading over time although an overheat can obviously cause it too - maybe even before you bought the car and it's getting worse? The other possibility (and I hope it isn't this) is a cracked head which I have heard happen to more than one S2.

 

[Guest]

ORIGINAL: sbloxxy

So what causes the head gasket to go? Is it overheating (which I haven't had before this problem) or can it be just old age - mine's done 155k. Is there anything else I should get done at the same time as the head gasket?

I would say a new water pump balance and cam belts and if you're feeling flush the belt rollers also, combined with the head gasket your looking at around £650 I would think.......

 

[Guest]

Take your car to a decent garage with a CO meter get them to check the expansion bottle for hydrocarbons,
this is a good test for head gasket failure,

 

[idwoodvale]

Had exactly the same symptoms from my Lux for the last few weeks. It was going through litres of water every journey. A sniffer test of the expansion tank showed the problem. It was indeed the head gasket.

I've taken the opportunity to send the head to John Mitchell in Bournmouth for gas flowing. I don't know if he has done any S2 heads but recons on good results from the 2.5 8v. Might be worth asking.