recently had a replacement engine, re conned turbo and fmic with egr delete and full hard pipe kit. Cars had a stage 1 map and is running around 170 bhp. Cars been losing water when driven hard. Causing the expansion tank to boil over. Is this head gasket failure. Or could it just be head lift. I've got the PD 150 head bolts and am going to get them fitted. Do u think this could solve it or should I go for the whole head skimmed and gasket replacement? Thanks in Advance

Head lift.

My friends VRS was having this issue.

I just changed all the head bolts to 150's and it cured it, so it's worth a go before doing the whole HG in my opinion.

check the thermostat ain't stuck could really be that simple when car is hot open valve on bottom radiator hose see if its cold if it is the the water aint circulating and your thermostat is naffed

I have the PD 150 head bolts in my boot. They were delivered yesterday. I'm going to get them fitted and see if this sorts it, like I say car runs all day if driven slowly. But I didn't buy a vrs and spend a small fortune on things to drive like my granny. Thanks for the advice.

What do I do if the thermostat is stuck? But a replacement or can it be fixed?

What do I do if the thermostat is stuck? But a replacement or can it be fixed?

 

New one needed.

If the temperature of the car isn't rising over normal operating temps, the thermostat is usually ok.

Does it lose less water if you drive it gently?

Again, all signs of head lift, which is very common just on mapped pd130's.

when I thought my head gasket was gone it wernt it was a stuck thermostat drove it down the garage to start work on it and pulled the bottom rad hose off and the water was cold hence the thermostat stuck if I drove it sensible it was fine if I booted it all the water would boil out the bottle and temp light come on to test it just remove thermostat if it fine u know its that and just fit a new 1 only a couple of quid I changed my headgasket any how as I had head work done and head stud kit