Head Gasket oil leak

[SilverLingo]

I have had my Berlingo for a couple of months now.

Car was rarely used by the first owner and had done just 28k since the beginning of 07 when it was purchased by a friend of mine.

The mileage is now fast approaching 32k

The only problem really is oil leaking from the head gasket that I have noticed. It is also getting worse I think.

There is no under tray fitted so it is making a mess of the drive so first port of call will be to source one of those

But my main question is is such a leak common on the 1360cc petrol engine?

On an old car that cost £1000 I a wondering wether to just leave it.

Thoughts and opinions welcomed.

[geoff]

Is the leak from the cylinder head gasket or from the rocker covers or indeed from anywhere else ?

If not cylinder head then any leak is straight forward to sort out with basic tooling and DIY ie cheap and therefore well worth doing.

If it leaks without a tray then just fitting a tray won't hold it back for long.

[Jed Clampit]

Hello SilverLingo the odd's are it's the rocker cover that's leaking not to hard to change the gasket do not over tighten the rocker cover when you fix it you can use some sort of sealant like red hermetite  with the new gasket 

[bikergraham]

Blimey Jed,is Red Hermitite still available,i havnt used that since i was 19 ,or are you just showing your age.I hate to say i was 19 in 1971 !!!!!

[geoff]

^^^ Yes and the Hermetite green too .... used to be ace but not bought for a few years now so it may have been sanitised in a similar way to Evo Stick and Victory V's

[RolyG]

Used to love red Hermetic thats the good stuff.With old British motorbikes needed lots.Haha.

[geoff]

Some years back now, on a foreign trip about 2000 miles from home, the head gasket on my F head Land Rover failed between cyls 3 and 4 so failing to get a spare I used Hermetite Green to seal the head directly to the block ( without a head gasket ) and this got me home without issue .... I went a further 4000 miles before replacing the gasket ... good old " Green "

[bikergraham]

Used to love red Hermetic thats the good stuff.With old British motorbikes needed lots.Haha.

Yea Your not kidding Roly,i remember it all over the inside of my toolbox as well. AAAAGGGGGG.

[Jed Clampit]

Blimey Jed,is Red Hermitite still available,i havnt used that since i was 19 ,or are you just showing your age.I hate to say i was 19 in 1971 !!!!!

LOL I started very young still had my milk teeth used it for thing's like take the head off a BSA Bantam remove the head gasket put the red on bolt it down more compression i'm sure you can still get it in a 310 ml tube for a silicone gun 

[steve johnson]

I have had my Berlingo for a couple of months now.

Car was rarely used by the first owner and had done just 28k since the beginning of 07 when it was purchased by a friend of mine.

The mileage is now fast approaching 32k

The only problem really is oil leaking from the head gasket that I have noticed. It is also getting worse I think.

There is no under tray fitted so it is making a mess of the drive so first port of call will be to source one of those

But my main question is is such a leak common on the 1360cc petrol engine?

On an old car that cost £1000 I a wondering wether to just leave it.

Thoughts and opinions welcomed.

I would agree with Jed & Geoff, Im new to these vans..and diesels..I had an oil leak and thought it was the cylinder head but it was the lower rocker cover...not sure if its the same set up as yours being petrol...but with great advice from these gents I sorted it out...I cleaned off the old silicone gasket with a plastic scrapper then used thinners on a cloth to really clean it...I put a thin bead of the red casket silicone round the cover then placed it back in situ...when I tightened the bolts I only nipped them up first then did each bolt a quater turn starting from the centre bolt then went to the outsides untill it was tight (not over tight)...I refitted everything then left it over night before starting the engine...this may be a little ott...but Im new to these engines...so went along with caution...hope this helps if youve not already sorted it,
Regards,
Steve..