[Engine] 1.4 head gasket?

[Gryffindor]

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

[Mrwilson]

I don't think I'd be diving into that problem at the moment, if it's not using or losing oil or water then you're likely to cause more problems than you're going to solve. Not doubting your abilities at all, just being realistic.
The garage quote must be getting up to the total value of the car I'd have thought so can't see the point of that to be honest.
A compression test or leak down test would give you a better idea of any impending problems but as my grannie used to say, " If it ain't broke, don't fix it".

[Tomcat3]

The 1.4 does suffer from rotting head gasket but if the car is running ok with no loss of fluid and temp staying normal I would just carry on as you are. At the start of the year I had the head gasket changed on my 1.4 due to rotted gasket pressurizing the cooling system and at same time he did the cambelt and water pump for 400 quid all in. I would of done it myself but my health aint been good this year and I trust his work. Only thing I did myself was strip the head and get it skimmed for 30 quid then rebuild it with new oil stem seals and clean the valves and head. That does sound very high what you have been quoted for what is a very easy engine to work on.

[oilyrag]

Are you sure it's at head gasket level rather than from the rocker cover - mine weeps from the rocker cover at that corner - barely moist - and no problem. I too have Radweld in as I thought I'd smelt coolant - maybe it's an age thing and it's pee - as the water and oil levels remain the same!
The engine could plod along for years without any further 'mending' and if it's just a clean up before an MoT it's better than possibly making things considerably worse.
Next summer sounds a good option - better than working in lashing rain!

[Gryffindor]

Yes I did read about the rocker cover possibility but I couldn't find signs of the leak myself in either place and wonder whether any remaining evidence might have dribbled underneath. I had it in mind to possibly investigate the rocker cover first, before deciding on going further or not.

Could be a pee thing - I drive trucks for a living and it's no fun turning up at a delivery point at 6am an hour before the staff do with no facilities available - I know what most other truckers do; as for me, all I'll say is coffee jar and baby wet wipes - BTW they are the truck driver's secret weapon - a wizz at removing ingrained truck grease at the end of a shift.

400 squid is incredible - he must have owed you several favours! And yes, the car's value (if it has one) did occur to me too. I've attached the estimate, based on the option of me giving the go-ahead for everything, which I didn't!


   
   

And they clearly did see me coming - the tyres quoted at £78.46 inc fitting plus vat are Goodyear Efficientgrip Compact, and after I trustingly gave them the go-ahead to order them I found them online at around £50 plus fitting but inc vat - roughly £20 a corner cheaper overall.

Thanks both for your thoughts; you reassure me to leave the gasket be, at least foreseeably.

[Gryffindor]

BTW I would very much like to add that the smell the mech smelt must have been in the engine bay - with Covid in mind I treated the car to an air con bomb a week beforehand.

The reviews about a lingering horrible chemically smell are not wrong!

[Tomcat3]

I use Blackcircle or tyre shopper.co.uk for all my tyres for years now mostly using Avon zt5 or now zt7 at about 48 quid a corner.
The rocker cover gaslket can go hard and brittle over time which can be seen by cracking on the corners. The gasket is cheap and easy to replace just dont overtighten the securing bolts and crush it.

[Gryffindor]

Mmm, it may be worth a close inspection then.

[Wiljones71]

I have the 2006 1.4 petrol, had the same advisory as you on the mot, I changed the rocker cover gasket seems to have done the trick for me, but dont over tighten the nuts as said.

[Gryffindor]

Thanks Willjones71.