Get Overheat (Head Gasket) Problem fabia 2003

[Othenat]

I have Skoda Fabia mk1 2003 1.4 MPI 8v, I get overheat with hot weather it was (33 C) outside, i stopped and switched off the car, and move it to the Service Center using truck.

 

They told me that the thermostat is damaged and water tank is also not good. I bought both of them from VW vendor, after that everything working perfectly but my digital rpm now is between 0.9 and 1.0 always and 1.2 - 1.3 when fans runs is that okay ??

 

and after 2 days i checked the oil cap and it has little "mayo" I don't know its because overheat or after replace thermostat and water tank.

 

The water level with G12 anti-freeze is stable and my oil level is stable dose not decrease at all, but the top hose from radiator is pressured a little bit but fans works fine and no oil come in water tank just in oil cap

 

Is that head-gasket failure ?   or just because of overheat  ?

 

Cheers,

Osama

[hutchysrs50]

Not sure about the idle change, but wouldn't worry about it unless it causes you problems driving it.

Slight Mayo is usually fine also, quite common in the 1.4 mpi because of the way the crank case breather works I think.

Aslong as you don't get pressure in the bottle or oil in the bottle I wouldn't worry about it much.

[Othenat]

Thanks for reply !

 

Well, I get pressure in water bottle, but the water level is always the same, is that problem ?

 

Cheers,

Osama 

Edited 4 August, 2015 by Othenat

[hutchysrs50]

How much pressure in the bottle?

You should get a small hiss, anything more could be sign of a problem.

[Alexandru]

I'd scan it with VCDS for errors. 

 

 my digital rpm now is between 0.9 and 1.0 always and 1.2 - 1.3 when fans runs is that okay ??

What digital rpm ? 

[Othenat]

How much pressure in the bottle?

You should get a small hiss, anything more could be sign of a problem.

Yes Its a small hiss, thank you  very much

[Othenat]

I'd scan it with VCDS for errors. 

 

What digital rpm ? 

The digital number like ( 9.4 l/100k) when the car is idle the default number is between 0.9 l/h - 1.0 l/h

[Alexandru]

That's showing you how much fuel your car is burning / hour while your car is stopped with the engine running, or the instant mpg when in motion. When the engine is cold, it's normal to have figures about 1.0 - 1.3, but when operating at normal temps (cooling liquid at 90 degrees), it should be 0.7-0.9. I can't recall what figures should be there with a hot engine and AC on, but shouldn't be very high as well. If you have a faulty temp sensor, your engine might be running rich on fuel, causing it to overheat. You should scan it for errors with VCDS.

Edited 4 August, 2015 by Alexandru

[Othenat]

Yes, before overheat problem last week, it was between 0.7 - 0.9 when operating at normal temps (cooling liquid at 90 degrees), but after change the thermostat and water with anti-freeze G12 the numbers between 0.9 - 1.0 maybe as you said its a temp sensor fault i'll check using VCDS but i have a lite version.

 

if the temp sensor is fault how much price ??

 

and if Spark plug need changes is that effect to fuel consumption it will be higher than 0.8 l/h to be between 0.9 l/h - 1.0 l/h  because of spark-plug ?

 

Cheers,

[TMB]

Yes, before overheat problem last week, it was between 0.7 - 0.9 when operating at normal temps (cooling liquid at 90 degrees), but after change the thermostat and water with anti-freeze G12 the numbers between 0.9 - 1.0 maybe as you said its a temp sensor fault i'll check using VCDS but i have a lite version.

 

if the temp sensor is fault how much price ??

 

and if Spark plug need changes is that effect to fuel consumption it will be higher than 0.8 l/h to be between 0.9 l/h - 1.0 l/h  because of spark-plug ?

 

Cheers,

 

Spark plugs don't really affect fuel consumption. The MPI 8 valve is a thirsty engine anyway. However, as Alexandru said, fuel consumption will suffer if the coolant temp sensor is faulty.

[Othenat]

Spark plugs don't really affect fuel consumption. The MPI 8 valve is a thirsty engine anyway. However, as Alexandru said, fuel consumption will suffer if the coolant temp sensor is faulty.

 

Thank you very much, There's any way to check head-gasket is failed ?? note that i get "little mayo on oil cap only not in water tank" ?

Edited 5 August, 2015 by Othenat

[Breezy_Pete]

Take the cap off the expansion tank first thing in the morning when the engine is at ambient temperature, before you start the engine.  If there is a hiss of escaping pressure, that's usually a sign that the headgasket is failing.

[Othenat]

Take the cap off the expansion tank first thing in the morning when the engine is at ambient temperature, before you start the engine.  If there is a hiss of escaping pressure, that's usually a sign that the headgasket is failing.

Today in the morning the car loose a little bit of water and when i open the water tank it has a "hiss" is that the headgasket failure ? 

[Othenat]

Guys, if the headgasket is gone, i need to Scrape the head or just replace the gasket ?

[Alexandru]

First of all, I don't really think you have a burned headgasket. If you don't get oil in the expansion tank or cooling liquid in oil (check the oil level, if it stays put for a long time, then you shouldn't be worried) your car is fine. Have in mind it's not a hermetical system after all. 

Check the cause of overheating the engine by starting with the water pump, radiators and thermostat, scan it with VCDS for faulty sensors etc.

Secondly, if you just want to replace the gasket for your personal comfort, go to a specialist. In most of the cases, it's ok just to replace it, but a mechanic will tell you if resurfacing cylinder head & block is required or not. I'm avoiding any engine rework unless it is absolutely necessary.

Edited 6 August, 2015 by Alexandru

[Othenat]

First of all, I don't really think you have a burned headgasket. If you don't get oil in the expansion tank or cooling liquid in oil (check the oil level, if it stays put for a long time, then you shouldn't be worried) your car is fine. Have in mind it's not a hermetical system after all. 

Check the cause of overheating the engine by starting with the water pump, radiators and thermostat, scan it with VCDS for faulty sensors etc.

Secondly, if you just want to replace the gasket for your personal comfort, go to a specialist. In most of the cases, it's ok just to replace it, but a mechanic will tell you if resurfacing cylinder head & block is required or not. I'm avoiding any engine rework unless it is absolutely necessary.

Thank you very very much,

 

from sunday till today i track the oil level its fine and i did not get oil in water tank at all, just little bit of mayo in oil cap, and today in the morning when i checked the car  it lose a little bit of water it was above the MAX sign then it be at the MAX level is that problem ?

[Alexandru]

Keep it between the signs...and you should be fine. This is why it is called MAX after all, right ?

[Othenat]

Aha, The water in the car it should not decrease at all ?

[Breezy_Pete]

Today in the morning the car loose a little bit of water and when i open the water tank it has a "hiss" is that the headgasket failure ? 

Probably.

[KenONeill]

Given that the car has overheated, and appears to have a pressurised cooling system on a cold engine (means left overnight, not just cold on the gauge) I'd strongly suspect either head gasket failure or a warped cylinder head (different things, but same symptoms).

 

I'd recommend having the coolant analysed for exhaust gas residues; I have no idea about Jordanian prices, or currency exchange rates, but in the UK this would cost no more than £15.

[Othenat]

Given that the car has overheated, and appears to have a pressurised cooling system on a cold engine (means left overnight, not just cold on the gauge) I'd strongly suspect either head gasket failure or a warped cylinder head (different things, but same symptoms).

 

I'd recommend having the coolant analysed for exhaust gas residues; I have no idea about Jordanian prices, or currency exchange rates, but in the UK this would cost no more than £15.

Well, I replaced the thermostat and water expansion tank last week after get overheat, and everything is fine but Every morning When the engine is cold in this week the cooling system got pressured but no oil with water only in oil cap no smoke in exhaust no overheat just lose little bit water (150 mil). 

 

The Jordanian currency exchange rates is £1 is 1.3 JD our currency like U.S Dollar.

 

Thank you very much

[KenONeill]

Ah, if it's dropped that little, and only done it once then settled out, it probably means that there was a small air lock some place that it worked out. If it's losing water at that rate daily, there must be a leak somewhere, but it's small enough that you need to do a dye test to find where.

 

Thanks for the exchange rate info. Wildly off-topic, but if you know Scottish politics just now you'll know why I'm asking. Do you mean that the Jordanian dollar formally shadows the US$ on currency markets?

[Breezy_Pete]

Bear in mind that it only takes about 35cm³ (just over a tenth of a standard coke can) to completely fill one of your combustion chambers at TDC, so if I'm right and you are leaking coolant into a cylinder, and it gets bad enough that 35cm³ of liquid accumulates there between shutdown and next start, it will be very bad for the engine since liquid is virtually incompressible.

 

You may be able to inspect the cylinders for 'wetness' by removing all the spark plugs and shining a torch into each of the holes.  May need to rotate the engine to bring the piston crowns up to a visible position. Do this a few hours after shutdown if you want to check this yourself.

 

Ken's coolant test is easier but not quite as 'free'.

[Othenat]

Well, i'll monitor the water level and test tje car in long journey.

***

The jordainian dinar $ = 0.75 US$ almost shadows US$ in currency market, and the 1 jordainain dinar = 1.3£ appox. I wish that i visit UK my old work was in UK company called Cloudview Ltd. in london

[Othenat]

Thanks wino ))