172 headgasket DIY

[nicknick]

Unfortunately, last week I noticed I was losing water... I'm losing about 800ml of water a day now and decided it's time to stop driving it. There isn't any mayo in the oil but I am getting pressure in the water system. (cap has popped off the header tank) Could this be a head gasket failure where the water is going down the exhaust instead of into the oil?

I'm not too bad with spanners so I think I'll have a go at doing it myself but does anyone know of any tutorials, guides or advice for doing a head gasket? (Tried a search)

I know I'll need a specific tool to re-time it, are there any other tools I'll need? thanks in advance !

 

[Fred@BTM]

special tools needed for the cambelt, new cambelt kit, you "should" replace the headbolts and all the seals, BIG job

 

[nicknick]

was hoping for a reply from you fred! Where could I get my hands on the special tools? Yeh I will be doing head bolts, all the seals and a cambelt kit but I've done the aux belt in the last year, reckon I could get away without doing that one?

 

[Mark One]

it's just the cambelt that's going to be a bee-hatch.

shame, this job is so easy on lil old 8v engines. Tools are in the region of 2 or £300 iirc? best to borrow or buy second hand if possible.

If you time it up wrong, it'll make piss poor power.

 

[Fred@BTM]

i've got the tools available for hire

you need to remove the inlet and exhuast pullies to get the rocker cover off, plus the exhaust manifold etc etc, t**t of a job

 

[nicknick]

i've got the tools available for hire

you need to remove the inlet and exhuast pullies to get the rocker cover off, plus the exhaust manifold etc etc, tw*t of a job

know of any guides for this? would it be self explanitory if I just had a go at it? how much is hire of the tools btw?

 

[Fred@BTM]

i hire mine out for £25 inc postage

erm i think i might have a renault guide "somewhere"

have you checked the water pump is ok?

 

[mark123]

http://www.fastchip.nl/media/doc/clio2/F4R_730.pdf

This manual has instructions for the head.

 

[nicknick]

i hire mine out for £25 inc postage

erm i think i might have a renault guide "somewhere"

have you checked the water pump is ok?

Haven't checked the water pump no.... what should I be looking for?

http://www.fastchip.nl/media/doc/clio2/F4R_730.pdf

This manual has instructions for the head.

Awesome!

 

[sideways danny]

tw*t of a job

obviously not worked on anything that's ACTUALLY a t**t of a job TBH. One of the easiest modern engines going. Ecotec vauxhall......now that's a t**t. Hardest part is doing the cambelt

 

[jack_davey]

I didn't think my ecotec vauxhall was too bad tbh, atleast there is more room to work with!

 

[ditz]

obviously not worked on anything that's ACTUALLY a tw*t of a job TBH. One of the easiest modern engines going. Ecotec vauxhall......now that's a tw*t. Hardest part is doing the cambelt

what one???

i got a 2.2 vectra head off at the moment and i'd rate that about half difficulty of doing a f4r/k4m/k4j etc etc


the timing procedure on the renault is pretty complex if you've not done it before..


are you talking about the ecotec they put in the tigra/corsa with the throttle body buryed completely inaccesable on top of the gearbox somewhere

 

[sideways danny]

I didn't think my ecotec vauxhall was too bad tbh, atleast there is more room to work with!

2 litre in the vectra is a massive arse

 

[stan*]

Which Ecotec in what car?!

Takes me about an hour on my mk4 Astra 2.0 SRI!

 

[sideways danny]

are you talking about the ecotec they put in the tigra/corsa with the throttle body buryed completely inaccesable on top of the gearbox somewhere

I'd blocked that out TBH had nightmares about them

 

[ditz]

I'd blocked that out TBH had nightmares about them

you've had nightmares!!!

i changed an inlet manifold on one as an apprentice and dropped a washer down the inlet

 

[Fred@BTM]

obviously not worked on anything that's ACTUALLY a tw*t of a job TBH. One of the easiest modern engines going. Ecotec vauxhall......now that's a tw*t. Hardest part is doing the cambelt

V6's win for being a t**t, these aren't far behind though along with the fiats

i don't mind the vauxhalls but i can see your point, but i have small hands