Forum:
Hi Guys,
Noobie after some advice here. I've had a 2003 Charade sl for just over a year now. It's done around 100,000 miles, which i am aware is high milage for a 1ltr engine. Its been using oil for as long as i have had it. (I had it serviced around 4 months ago) It has produced some misty white residue on the inside of the filler cap all the while aswell. I mentioned this to the garage and the claimed it is due to the nature of the semi-synthetic oil...
However recently it has started using more oil than normal, but not producing any more white mist/mayo. A guy working in my local parts shop recomended running a slightly heavier oil as this should stop it burning quite so much.
However, this is the problem. It has now started using coolant. Could this be because its been having to work unusually hard with all the snow? There doesn't appear to be any oil or residue in the header tank which would suggest a blown head gasket, however there is more white residue on the filler cap.
Any advice as to whether this is normall for a high milage charade or if the head is on its way out would be great. I have a couple of other unrelated problems, but they can wait as this is the one that has me worried.
Other than the above this has been a stunning little car, and i am amased at just how capable the little bugger is!
Thanks in advance
Matt
Oil and Coolant Consumption
You may have two unconnected problems here but it looks to me as if they may have partially come together in a leaking head gasket. The old problem of oil consumption will at 100,000 miles almost certainly be worn piston rings coupled with gummed up oil scraper rings - usually the product more of poor servicing at some point in the car's life rather than natural wear. This really needs sorting out whatever happens. The lucky bit about this is that you have to take off the cylinder head [and sump] to do it which will give you the opportunity of looking at the head gasket to determine if it has been leaking. However, as a first step I would get the cooling system pressure checked as it may just have developed a leak - especially in all this cold and salty weather that is nothing to do with the cylinder head gasket. The "mayo" you refer to certainly sounds dodgy but with worn rings you will be getting a lot of crankcase pressure and consequent oil blowing up and into the air filter/intake and fuming from the oil filler cap but not usually mayo which is more a sign of either condensation [which this engine does not normally suffer from] or - a blown head gasket. I think you need to be systematic as to how you deal with this and your cooling system should not use more coolant in any sort of weather - it shouldn't "use" any - mine never has.
It would be helpful to know just how much coolant and oil you are using [quantities/frequency]. I would guess worn rings AND a leaking head gasket at this stage.
In terms of quantities, its
In terms of quantities, its using about 500ml of oil over 6-8 weeks, but until recently has never used any coolant. On rechecking the radiator this evening when the engine had cooled completely, its now a reddy/brown (rusty?) colour. I can only guess this is due to there being some rust in the system, but the coolant that is in the header tank is still a pretty clear pink..... i think im gunna drop it in at a garage as i think im a little out of my depth. The thing that has me sooo confused is that the car drives exactly as it did 12months ago when i aquired it. Surely if there was a problem as big as a cracked hg then there would be some kind of sign whilst driving? Do you think it would be worth doing a radiator flush and replacing the coolant?
cheers for all the advice
Rusty Radiator Water
As I mentioned in my earlier reply, there are two problems here which I do not think are linked. The oil consumption maybe not too serious but it does indicate worn rings and the rusty water in the radiator could indicate a blockage, stuck thermostat, defective fan switch etc. I think you do need to take it to a repairer. With regard to head gasket failures, these can take a number of different forms and it depends on where the leak develops as to how quickly you notice it. If the leak allows combustion to escape into the coolant jacket then it quickly causes a noticeable problem as does as a leak between the oilways and the coolant jacket [mayo]. Headgasket failures do not spontaneously appear and are, on the whole, not that common on these cars unless there is some other defect which causes it.