Possible Head Gasket Failure?

[BenPalmer]

Hello all,

Though I fear I might know what the outcome of this will be I figured I would present to you all the latest setback with my lovely R4. Unfortunately, I now have water/coolant escaping from my exhaust manifold. Short video of this in the link below.

For reference, I've had overheating issues with my van for a long time without ever properly being able to get to the bottom of it. I don't have a temperature gauge fitted but the warning light would come on like clockwork after a few minutes driving and then disappear after anywhere between 2-10 minutes or so depending on whether I was driving stop/start in the city or pottering continuously down country lanes. At the start I just assumed this was where the thermostat was a little sticky and slow to open, but now I'm fairly sure that's not the case. I've had various parts replaced - waterpump, radiator, thermostat, pump belts, hoses etc over the past several months, while I have also taken her to my local garage to make sure the timing wasn't retarded. The coolant in my expansion tank would mysteriously disappear without any visible leaks or puddles pooling beneath the van too. I've also had my expansion bottle at a rolling boil and change colour completely with muck and debris.

All of this, along with the video, has lead me to dread that it's a possible head gasket or worse. I showed this video to a mechanic down the road and he said that it's almost 100% a head gasket and maybe even an engine rebuild but I figured I would get a 2nd/3rd/4th opinion from this community before further investigation.

Thanks in advance.

 

[André4Renaults]

I'll be your second opinion, and I agree with your local garage. It's always difficult to be 100% certain without seeing the car in the flesh, so to speak, but given the symptoms you describe and, particularly reference to the muck and debris in the coolant bottle, I would concur with them. Unload there's no alternative, I shouldn't drive the car again until it's repaired, as you might damage things further.

 

[jcarruthers2]

Hi

It looks like head gasket failure with the way the coolant is gushing out from the cylinder head area. It is a long shot but it might be worth re-torquing the cylinder head bolts, they might be loose, nothing to lose, easy to do. However, with the symptoms you have described and the number of cooling system components you have already changed, it is looking like the head gasket. It is not such a difficult procedure to carry out. It will be more involved if the liner seals prove to be shot too.

 

[BenPalmer]

Thankyou all for the opinions - I'll see if the bolts need re-torquing first as suggested before moving on to anything more substantial.