Taff Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 I'm reasonable certain the head gasket has blown/failed on the escort. The heater has been varying between hot and cold over the last few days, Ive checked today and the coolant has all vanished and I have the beginnings of the dreaded mayonnaise on the dipstick. Thing is, I have a job interview tomorrow morning & no chance of getting it fixed tonight. I suspect I already know the answer to this but what's the panels opinion on if it has another 110 miles in it if I nurse it? It's a 1999 Escort 1600 zetec, for those who don't know Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Felly Magic Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 Lob a bottle of K seal in and top the coolant up Sigmund Fraud 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hairnet Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 BFO can of water with you when you go and keep looking at the level Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alf892 Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 A job interview? No way is it worth the risk of being late........my experience was that interviews were hard to come by! Bamboocarman 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sigmund Fraud Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 Are you sure it's HGF and not just a coolant leak ? I'd top up the coolant and check for obvious leaks and for pressure in the system. Either way, you have nothing to lose by trying K-seal. Depending on how important the job interview is, you may want to consider alternatives to using the Escort... The most sensible* alternative would be the purchase of another £300 shitter ! alf892 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 Get the coolant topped up, give it a thorough bleeding and take it for a good drive tonight. Allow plenty of time for getting to the interview too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John F Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 Agree re. possible coolant leak... the mayonnaise might just be oil emulsification, especially if you just do short runs Do you have any other reason to suspect HGF? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wackeldackel Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 If you do go down the K seal route ignore the instructions to put it in the header tank and instead take out the thermostat and tip it in there. If you're really sure it is hgf then don't put the thermostat back in and have the interior heater going top whack as well, fingers crossed its just a leak, but does sound ominous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordperv Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 As said fill your coolant up and run it, if your coolant had all gone into your water you would have chocolate milkshake looking oil not just a tiny spot of mayo, working on that theory if it has gone it will have gone between water jacket and cylinder, when the system has pressure are you getting a miss at idle? If not I'd check for a water leak else where, check your passenger footwell for wet, the heater radiators love to leak Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taff Posted January 8, 2015 Author Share Posted January 8, 2015 Thanks all for input BFO can of water with you when you go and keep looking at the level 20 litre can in the boot just in case Are you sure it's HGF and not just a coolant leak ? I'd top up the coolant and check for obvious leaks and for pressure in the system. Either way, you have nothing to lose by trying K-seal. Depending on how important the job interview is, you may want to consider alternatives to using the Escort... The most sensible* alternative would be the purchase of another £300 shitter ! Just been out for K-seal, the job comes with a company car so I don't really want two shitters on the drive as well as a potential company car* *of course I DO want two shitters on the drive but simply don't have the space Get the coolant topped up, give it a thorough bleeding and take it for a good drive tonight. Allow plenty of time for getting to the interview too. sound like a plan, the run up to the interview is nearly all motorway so a nice steady 60mph is in order, I think Agree re. possible coolant leak... the mayonnaise might just be oil emulsification, especially if you just do short runs Do you have any other reason to suspect HGF? It hasn't done a long journey (i.e. further than 15 miles) since October, on reflection. Like I said, heater goes hot and cold, all coolant had vanished, spot of mayo on the dipstick (oil level was fine, btw). It cut out the other night but restarted after 5 minutes. That's about it. HG plus bolts and belt are going to be about £80, which equals 6.5 bottles of K-seal, so if I can squeeze another month out of it, job jobbed. Sigmund Fraud 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bren Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 Good luck with your interview. Send it over the bridge with the silver estate - they can keep each other company. Taff 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barefoot Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 If you take my advice you'll stay in this evening and do a lot of worrying about the journey tomorrow, follow that with a restless night tonight and then tomorrow thrash the bastard all the way. WCPGW? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taff Posted January 8, 2015 Author Share Posted January 8, 2015 If you take my advice you'll stay in this evening and do a lot of worrying about the journey tomorrow, follow that with a restless night tonight and then tomorrow thrash the bastard all the way. WCPGW? that's kind of what I had in mind. I suspect it will get me there, I shall narrowly missout on the job, then break down as I pull out of the carpark barefoot 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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