[maccymaccy]

Hi,

I don't know too much about the honda engines, but I know on our old diesel when the heater ran cold whilst the engine was warm it indicated head gasket failure (may not be the case for the honda).

Well, I have just started these symptoms! My coolant level was also very low when I was advised to check my water level by a work colleague regarding the heaters nt working.

Is there any possibility that it isn't the head gasket, and is actually something else less severe?!! I have entry level mechanical skills and dunno if I'd be up to the job of changing a head gasket - incidently, how much would that job cost if I was JUST replacing the head gasket on my 218 SLD turbo diesel?

...please let it be good news! :(

Thanks
Andy

[badger]

im gettin the same prob, so if you find out how much before i do, then please post it up

it is a days work plus parts so i would imagine 200+

it would need, gaskets, oil, maybe head bolts etc

[badger]

this site is quite useful for repair costs

http://www.repaircosts.co.uk/index.html

[maccymaccy]

Cheers for site Badger - that'll be very useful

...as it happens, I actually concluded that it was the thermostat and not the head gasket. The thing is though, I didn't bleed or flush the system when I changed it and as a result the heating blowers were luke warm at best!. Left the motor ticking over for 3/4 of an hour with the coolant resevoir cap off and was still only blowing luke warm air!

Someone recommended locating and bleeding the bleed nipples as well, and now I have sheared one of the bloody things!! ....well, at least I think it was one?! - it's an alan screw topped jobby located on the thermostat housing and it was hollow with a small outlet hole towards the top - regretting using a large ratchet handle on it now!! Does anyone know if I'd be able to get a replacement from a good motor-factor??....or anywhere actually?!

Thanks guys
Andy

[maccymaccy]

Hi all;

I have now replaced the bleed nipple - just using a 10mm bolt cut to size ...50p well spent and I have a spare!

Also, the cooling system has now been emptied and flushed, and the cooling system is topped up with fresh coolant.

However, the coolant that was drained from the cooling system is full of oil! After a little background research I think that this could be due to a block in the radiator as it isn't getting warm, even though the top-pipe to the thermostat is very warm (but not too hot to touch!) The temperature guage also rises above the mid-point on long journeys (around the 15mile mark,) and I have to ease off the revs so that the guage falls back to normal! Can anyone confirm my thoery about the radiator or throw some light on why else oil could be getting into the coolant?!

Still don't think that it's the head gasket because there is no mayonaise to be seen, no bubbles in the oil and no steam/unusual coloured smoke from the exhaust?!

Cheers
Andy

[E_T_V]

If you have water in the oil or oil in the water then there are two options.
Either the oil cooler has failed allowing them to mix or the headgasket has failed allowing them to mix. (There is the third possibility that it is a small amount of remaining oil from a previous headgasket failure as it can be stubbourn to remove).

[maccymaccy]

Hi ETV;

....just been to my mechanics for a professional diagnosis - it's definately the head gasket!

So gonna sell up and get a new banger for my commute

Thanks for the help folks