Been getting a fair amount of white smoke On hot start over the past few months, has become worse recently. No emulsion like substance On the dipstick or under the cap. Although the increase of coolant consumption has become slightly worse recently. About 500 ml per 1000 miles.

Now starting to get loss of oil as well. However it would seem there isn't any visible oil deposits in the header tank. Visited my local garage and had the system pressure tested, no apparent leaks from any area.

So far the engine isn't misfiring or idling badly, runs fine.

Any ideas if this could be the beginning of head gasket failure or perhaps head lift?

Engine is a PD 160

Thanks

Edited 26 September, 201312 yr by The Seer

Anyone??:-)

I cant help to answer you're question but sit tight, 3 hours in the middle of the day when all the spanner heads are at work wont result in a reply. Someone will be along soon! 

 

Might be worth adding how many miles/state of tune you're car is as well. 

I cant help to answer you're question but sit tight, 3 hours in the middle of the day when all the spanner heads are at work wont result in a reply. Someone will be along soon! 

 

Might be worth adding how many miles/state of tune you're car is as well.

No worries mate, thanks for the reply and advice anyway

The car has covered just over 70k current state of tune is Miltek exhaust with de Cat and down pipe plus stage one re map...200 bhp with 300 lbs ft.

Anybody?

As Matt has said, its the middle of the day man Also, being a PD160, some components will be different to a PD130, which is fitted in the fabia vrs' although I'm not sure which parts are different, the head may be one of them.

 

However, I had a coolant loss issue, sometimes white smoke, which turned out to be a headgasket failure But that was over a month ago and its still not running haha

I thought the pd160 (maybe i mean pd150) had upgraded head bolts (do a search ) as that is what people on here use to combat possible current or future head lift?

I know that PD130 headbolts are generally upgraded to PD150 headbolts when a head gasket goes, or the bolts become loose. Might be worth trying to tighten the current headbolts

I will be getting PD150 headbolts fitted when my hybrid PD150 gets fitted along with EGR delete.

To hopefully prevent any headlift.

Anyways back on topic, sorry to op. Hope you get it sorted out.

As Matt has said, its the middle of the day man Also, being a PD160, some components will be different to a PD130, which is fitted in the fabia vrs' although I'm not sure which parts are different, the head may be one of them.

 

However, I had a coolant loss issue, sometimes white smoke, which turned out to be a headgasket failure But that was over a month ago and its still not running haha

How did you diagnose that it was a head gasket failure? Aside from the white smoke did you suffer any other issues? Also how many miles has your engine covered?

I thought the pd160 (maybe i mean pd150) had upgraded head bolts (do a search ) as that is what people on here use to combat possible current or future head lift?

I've heard that too. I believe you're right, it does have much stronger head bolts.

I will be getting PD150 headbolts fitted when my hybrid PD150 gets fitted along with EGR delete.

To hopefully prevent any headlift.

Anyways back on topic, sorry to op. Hope you get it sorted out.

Thanks mate, me too. Been losing coolant for nearly six months but yet no loss of compression or other tell tale head gasket symptoms.

Thanks mate, me too. Been losing coolant for nearly six months but yet no loss of compression or other tell tale head gasket symptoms.

You can get head studs which are much stronger than the ARL head bolts. They are only normally used for very high power builds and they are about £300 quid AFAIK. Darkside Developments sell them.

Maybe you could try a new set of ARL bolts?!

I was loosing coolant after having a bigger turbo, since mine is a pd130 I just upgraded to ARL pd150 head bolts.

Presumably to avoid making matters worse this isn't a per bolt replacement above, he would follow the untightening sequence til they are all out then put the new ones in

 

Blindingly obvious but just worth a mention, I guess you could come across someone that might just take each bolt out one at a time !

You can get head studs which are much stronger than the ARL head bolts. They are only normally used for very high power builds and they are about £300 quid AFAIK. Darkside Developments sell them.

Maybe you could try a new set of ARL bolts?!

I was loosing coolant after having a bigger turbo, since mine is a pd130 I just upgraded to ARL pd150 head bolts.

I suppose I really shouldn't have to upgrade since the bolts on the PD 160 are I think stronger than the 150 s. Thanks for the info though I would probably buys set if needed.

Presumably to avoid making matters worse this isn't a per bolt replacement above, he would follow the untightening sequence til they are all out then put the new ones in

Blindingly obvious but just worth a mention, I guess you could come across someone that might just take each bolt out one at a time !

That's exactly what you do.

Replace one bolt at a time following the sequence. Saves replacing head gasket if you're purely wanting to replace the bolts.

Suggest get car to garage for a coolant system and compression check.

That way you know what needs to be done, rather than assumptions/guess-work.

That's exactly what you do.

Replace one bolt at a time following the sequence. Saves replacing head gasket if you're purely wanting to replace the bolts.

Thing is, how will I know it's the bolts and not the head gasket?

Suggest get car to garage for a coolant system and compression check.

That way you know what needs to be done, rather than assumptions/guess-work.

Agreed, it's best to visit a garage and try to come to some conclusion. I've had the coolant system pressure tested and there's no apparent leaks.

How is a compression test performed considering there's no spark plugs?

I'm not saying it was the bolts mate, chances are that it's not in your case. You have the 12.9 higher tensile bolts already. Seek advice of darkside developments if I were you.

My post was in reply to domino.

I think using the glow plug holes seer although not sure.

I'm not saying it was the bolts mate, chances are that it's not in your case. You have the 12.9 higher tensile bolts already. Seek advice of darkside developments if I were you.

My post was in reply to domino.

I think using the glow plug holes seer although not sure.

I did phone Darkside Developments and was told without seeing the car they couldn't give an opinion. Since they're some distance from Essex that's not really feasible.