head gasket

[Nialle]

So my head gasket has gone on the 5 and wondering how hard can it be to do the work myself? anyone done it before, and whats the chances its going to need skimming? or on the otherhand do i jus giv it to a garage and get it back fixed, any advice would be great peeps

[Tony Walker]

easy enough to do, take bits off clean them put them back on. critical bits are torqueing the head properely and setting the tappets and checking the head for flatness. dont remove the dizzy drive either as this just ads another complication.


What makes you think the gasket has gone? if its overheated how hot did it get??? if it got pretty hot then its wise to get the head checked for flatness and pressure tested for cracks.

[chezzer85]

DO IT YOURSELF, or ask a local member to help you. Don't trust a garage with your 5!

[Nialle]

It never overheated but it had been drinking lots of water. then yesterday i got loads of white smoke out the exhaust and it started kangarooing when i tried to drive it then it cut out and wouldnt start again n when it does start as soon as u stop revving it dies :(

[Tony Walker]

was the smoke when you started it? does it start and run on all four cylinders and just wont idle?

[Nialle]

It never overheated but it had been drinking lots of water. then yesterday i got loads of white smoke out the exhaust and it started kangarooing when i tried to drive it then it cut out and wouldnt start again n when it does start as soon as u stop revving it dies :(

[Tony Walker]

lol ic so much clearer now youve said it twice.

[Nialle]

It does start but its verry hard to start it. aslong as your revving it it will run but as soon as you stop it does die yeah and yeah the smoke is as soon as you start it

[Nialle]

Haha i dint mean to post it twice

[Tony Walker]

lol no problem. Does it start on 4 cylinders or does it sound like its misfiring? Is it pressurising the coolant system straight away not once its warmed up?
not idling/cutting out could just be mixture screw jumped out(common fault) or carb issues blocked idle jet idle needs adjusting,mixture adjusting, large air leak. All cars smoke when starting them up, steam is fine to a certain extent.