12-11-2020, 06:41 PM
I had my Nov 2003 1.4i (rpo 09871,TU3JP, MA 5N, now about 62,000 miles) serviced and MOTed this week.
last year, it had advisories on the tyres, as well as "Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))."
This year, it had new tyres - but there was no advisory for any oil leak. One possible reason is that with the MOT and service in mind, I had the engine bay jetwashed a couple of weeks ago.
However, the garage phoned me to say that his mech had noticed a leaking head gasket because of 'a strong smell' - unfortunately I know no more about what type of smell it was and I can't smell it.
The leak was tracked down by him to the front left corner of the block and I was told that it had obviously been leaking "for a long time". Or had it leaked a long time ago and then stopped...?
Research I've been doing online today suggests that this is a common failure on the TU3s, where supposedly an oil gallery between block and head at the front left corner has an O ring bonded to the gasket, the O ring can become unbonded and/or brittle resulting in a "weep" (not a 'flow' or 'deluge'?) between that oil and the outside world, as opposed to the cylinders.
Looking at pics of gaskets online, I can't see any such O ring.
The garage quote to fix it was £160 for a head test (not incl optional skimming) plus £750 for jut the labour - the total estimate all in was frightening!
But the problem is that in the 15 months I've had the car, I have never ever had to top up either the oil or the water, and neither oil nor water have in the past shown signs of milkiness etc.
So if it has leaked, is it possible that only a tiny amount ever got out and then the leak gunged itself closed again? It certainly seems not to have leaked in the 2 weeks since the jetwash. Or am I dreaming because of the pressures involved?
The only related issue there may be is a possible very minor heater matrix leak, detected by another mech by the smell of coolant in the cabin when I first had the car, my response being to tip some radweld in the rad;,
But firstly there's never been any dampness on the floor, even slightly; and secondly I now wonder whether both mechs detected the same smell and so my matrix doesn't leak after all? I'd like to say 'either the matrix or the engine' don't leak but I cannot discount the MOT advisory.
I also have it in mind to do the cambelt next summer; it has apparently been done in the past but I have no proof of it. I have also seem somewhere, probably on here, that the valves benefit from adjusting every 20k miles, so all in all I thought it might be time for me to do the cambelt, gasket and valves together, again some time next year.
But should I leave well alone regarding the gasket?
I have never tacked such a job before; I note that the Haynes manual gives it a 4 spanner rating where I would rate myself as between 2 and 3 spanners depending on the weather. I am however methodical with an eye for detail, and on reading though the Haynes guide and watching a few online vids, it seems straightforward although very involved.
Lastly I only have this one car and can't have it laid up for ages; I could set aside a week's hol or a bit more for it, but I would have to have it back on the road for commuting at the end of that time, if I do tackle this job.
So what would all you experienced members advise? Could someone like me do it? Does it need doing or left alone? If it does need doing, can I leave it til next year? Should I swallow the labour bill and get a pro to do it?
TIA
last year, it had advisories on the tyres, as well as "Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))."
This year, it had new tyres - but there was no advisory for any oil leak. One possible reason is that with the MOT and service in mind, I had the engine bay jetwashed a couple of weeks ago.
However, the garage phoned me to say that his mech had noticed a leaking head gasket because of 'a strong smell' - unfortunately I know no more about what type of smell it was and I can't smell it.
The leak was tracked down by him to the front left corner of the block and I was told that it had obviously been leaking "for a long time". Or had it leaked a long time ago and then stopped...?
Research I've been doing online today suggests that this is a common failure on the TU3s, where supposedly an oil gallery between block and head at the front left corner has an O ring bonded to the gasket, the O ring can become unbonded and/or brittle resulting in a "weep" (not a 'flow' or 'deluge'?) between that oil and the outside world, as opposed to the cylinders.
Looking at pics of gaskets online, I can't see any such O ring.
The garage quote to fix it was £160 for a head test (not incl optional skimming) plus £750 for jut the labour - the total estimate all in was frightening!
But the problem is that in the 15 months I've had the car, I have never ever had to top up either the oil or the water, and neither oil nor water have in the past shown signs of milkiness etc.
So if it has leaked, is it possible that only a tiny amount ever got out and then the leak gunged itself closed again? It certainly seems not to have leaked in the 2 weeks since the jetwash. Or am I dreaming because of the pressures involved?
The only related issue there may be is a possible very minor heater matrix leak, detected by another mech by the smell of coolant in the cabin when I first had the car, my response being to tip some radweld in the rad;,
But firstly there's never been any dampness on the floor, even slightly; and secondly I now wonder whether both mechs detected the same smell and so my matrix doesn't leak after all? I'd like to say 'either the matrix or the engine' don't leak but I cannot discount the MOT advisory.
I also have it in mind to do the cambelt next summer; it has apparently been done in the past but I have no proof of it. I have also seem somewhere, probably on here, that the valves benefit from adjusting every 20k miles, so all in all I thought it might be time for me to do the cambelt, gasket and valves together, again some time next year.
But should I leave well alone regarding the gasket?
I have never tacked such a job before; I note that the Haynes manual gives it a 4 spanner rating where I would rate myself as between 2 and 3 spanners depending on the weather. I am however methodical with an eye for detail, and on reading though the Haynes guide and watching a few online vids, it seems straightforward although very involved.
Lastly I only have this one car and can't have it laid up for ages; I could set aside a week's hol or a bit more for it, but I would have to have it back on the road for commuting at the end of that time, if I do tackle this job.
So what would all you experienced members advise? Could someone like me do it? Does it need doing or left alone? If it does need doing, can I leave it til next year? Should I swallow the labour bill and get a pro to do it?
TIA
53 1.4i MS MPV RIP
53 1.6 MS Desire RIP
08 C4GP 1.9 VTR+
53 1.6 MS Desire RIP
08 C4GP 1.9 VTR+
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