whats the chances??

[jasper5]

Before you go any further with this find yourself a garage that will do a chemical "sniffer" test, this will prove conclusively if the head gasket is blown as exhaust gas in the cooling system causes the chemicals to change colour.

If the chemical test is negative ask for a pressure test.

[madmadmax]

yep get it tested

once you get it tested, i can do the head gasket i know i am a bit far but i will be cheaper than all of the garages and i am a mechanic with all the tools so whats to lose.

you will have to leave it with me as the head will most likely need a skim which i will have to get a price for but labor will be £100 how ever long it takes (price will be reduced if it takes less than 5 hours) plus parts and skim.
i am self employed so i can make up my prices as i go and charge cost for all parts and works done by others.

i am in Sheffield south Yorkshire

[kevtherev]

Before you go any further with this find yourself a garage that will do a chemical "sniffer" test, this will prove conclusively if the head gasket is blown as exhaust gas in the cooling system causes the chemicals to change colour.

If the chemical test is negative ask for a pressure test.

booked in friday for a head test.

yep get it tested

once you get it tested, i can do the head gasket i know i am a bit far but i will be cheaper than all of the garages and i am a mechanic with all the tools so whats to lose.

you will have to leave it with me as the head will most likely need a skim which i will have to get a price for but labor will be £100 how ever long it takes (price will be reduced if it takes less than 5 hours) plus parts and skim.
i am self employed so i can make up my prices as i go and charge cost for all parts and works done by others.

i am in Sheffield south Yorkshire

that is a very kind offer and would probably take you up on that.
serious question tho: you could seriously do it in under 5 hrs????? i have been told the book time is 12 and a half hours. this is the thing with the gasket replacement most of the charge is labour and vat.
shall post the results on here on friday and madmadmax thanks again for the offer you will no doubt be getting a PM at the weekend after i run through all my options

thanks

kev

[steve_earwig]

booked in friday for a head test.

Ok, but when's the car getting looked at?

Seriously, hope it's all good news

[kevtherev]

booked in friday for a head test.

Ok, but when's the car getting looked at?

Seriously, hope it's all good news

[madmadmax]

no i cart do it in less than 12.5 hours, i don't have the book times available to me so i just charge a fair amount and work from there

just a quick question is it due a timing belt as this would be the time to get it fitted as i will be taking the old one off, i won't charge you any labor for doing the belt just parts. i not trying to get more money just trying to the best for you.

[kevtherev]

no i cart do it in less than 12.5 hours, i don't have the book times available to me so i just charge a fair amount and work from there

just a quick question is it due a timing belt as this would be the time to get it fitted as i will be taking the old one off, i won't charge you any labor for doing the belt just parts. i not trying to get more money just trying to the best for you.

no had the belt , pump etc done 3 weeks ago.
i'll see what the garage says friday get a 2nd opinion,
i alredy took it back to the guy who did the belt and he says it's not the gasket. he got me to rev the engine at 2k for 30 seconds. there were no bubbles in the expansion tank so he said he doubted gasket trouble.engine was cold. yet with a header on the tank it's bubbbling up all the time and pushing the coolant in the engine or maybe heater matrix back up into the header when it's under load and it doesn't drop again,

the only other thing i can think is maybe there's a blockage in the engine itself, it's the only thing i aint flushed..
we shall see ......if it's gasket trouble il p.m you mate, if not then back to the drawing board....

[kevtherev]

update:

garage rang this morning . it's deffo the ead gasket gone
went down to fetch it the guy says:
have you put anything in it?
ME: yeah k seal
GUY:oh right that would be the gold stuff then
ME:yep and did you see the blue plastic too?
GUY:yeah probably gasket sealent, and there's iron filings in there too..
ME:

So i aint gonna bother fixing it's getting part chopped sharpish
cash from loan should be available in my bank next week bye bye 406
most likely purchase: mondeo petrol

thanks for all the advice and offers of help over this thread