Head gasket

[Mattv6]

Renault 5 turbo

[Dave Reed]

Depends on why the gasket went in the 1st place??

All you need to really do is check with a straight edge, you'll soon see if it's warped.

[Brigsy]

Definately check the head, you dont want to do the job twice. If its overheated it will definately need a skim. Also check the height of the head when its off and diagnose why it has failed :)

[Mattv6]

New poster! (less than 10 posts)


Depends on why the gasket went in the 1st place??

All you need to really do is check with a straight edge, you'll soon see if it's warped.


Cool thanks - not sure how it went as it was gone when I got it. Drove fine but oil in water and cream in oil cap. Been stood for long time too before I bought it (garaged for couple of years).

Carl off here is helping do it (well doing most of it) :) so I'll get him to check.

Just to clarify it might not need skimming then and we will be able to see if it has quite clearly when it's off at the weekend?

Thanks guys. Appreciate info.

[Mattv6]

Definately check the head, you dont want to do the job twice. If its overheated it will definately need a skim. Also check the height of the head when its off and diagnose why it has failed :)

Cheers will do. Is it easy to check height etc? Any tips? Sorry bit of a novice when it comes to heads.

[chipis]

I would recommend you to do skimming :)

[Brigsy]

Just get some vernier calipers on the head. Standard head is 73.5mm, you can take a bit off and restore standard compression by using the thicker uprated gasket. 73mm ish should be fine

[Mattv6]

If I've not driven it and it's just been stood is there the possibility it won't need doing?

[GTphil]

How bad is the mayo? It can be quite normal if it has been stood for a long time.

Did the person you got the car from tell you anything about the headgasket?

You really want to compression test the motor to find out for sure, either that or do a few miles and see how it goes, again white smoke/ condensation is normal if it's been stood. It should clear after a few miles once the car gets up to temp.

I wonder how many owners buy a gtt that has been stood take off the oil cap see a bit of white and think the headgasket has gone.

[The new Bill J]

I wonder how many owners buy a gtt that has been stood take off the oil cap see a bit of white and think the headgasket has gone.

18, in the last year alone! :eek:

As Phil said, unless you know for a fact that the gasket's gone, I wouldn't go moving things. Compression test it, and if that's ok, and if it's running alright, take it for a good long drive, and get everything nice and hot. You might want to change the coolant as well.

[Mattv6]

How bad is the mayo? It can be quite normal if it has been stood for a long time.

Did the person you got the car from tell you anything about the headgasket?

You really want to compression test the motor to find out for sure, either that or do a few miles and see how it goes, again white smoke/ condensation is normal if it's been stood. It should clear after a few miles once the car gets up to temp.

I wonder how many owners buy a gtt that has been stood take off the oil cap see a bit of white and think the headgasket has gone.


Tbh it wasn't too bad. It was white smoke out of the back and water out of the exhaust.

I'll get a compression test done - think Carl off here can do it.

[Mattv6]

Got head off And gasket had definitely gone (cylinder 3). There is a small kink in the gasket where water got through.

Cleaned head down and we measured it - looks fine and no damage to pistons.

Do you think I need to get it skimmed or can new gasket just go straight back on?

Is there anyone local to chesterfield Yorkshire area that could check it for me?

On a positive note everything is cleaned and engine bay looks like new now.

[SCHWARTZ]

What did it look like to the straight edge?

[Mattv6]

Hi looked fine and all smooth.

[SCHWARTZ]

Bang it back on with a new gasket then matey.;)