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Advice for a colleague


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Posted

A colleague came to me as someone knowledgeable about cars, I sensed a query about mechanics coming up, so I had to let him down gently by admitting that my knowledge / interest in cars is not on a mechanical / how they work / how to fix them level, it's more on makes/models/types that sort of thing. He has a suspected HG failure on his 98 Daewoo Nubira & wants to know if there's any cost effective way of sorting it out himself without the expense of taking it to a mechanic. He mentioned something called steel seal & wondered if that might work? I said I didn't know but I'd ask around for him as I knew people that might!

Posted

There is a product called K-Seal that may work, but I recon it will only be a temporary fix at best. Wang some in, if it works then get rid sharpish!

Posted

It's an Astra engine isn't it? If so, he might be best just getting it done, apparently it's a pretty easy job.

Posted

Is he sure its the head gasket? If hes not mechanically minded (and it certainly sounds as though he isn't) then he is best getting it fixed. K Seal or similar will / might only buy time during which time he would be best getting rid asap!

Posted

Any product you pour into the engine/cooling system will be a (very) temporary fix at best, and will not work and screw up any further effort to repair it properly at worst (I have seen this happen with a BMW 318 Coupe - engine needed new head gasket, not helped by 2-3 litres of gunk gumming everything up, result engine now f**ked and vehicle to be scrapped).Since it's an 11 year old Daewoo, he might be better scrapping it and putting the 'repair' money towards buying a better/newer car. This of course depends on how much money he actually has, but also the condition of the rest of the car, how long he's owned it, how much he's spent on it already, whether he actually likes driving it etc.

Posted

What powers a Daewoo Nubira?I don't think even the earlier Nexia's shared an engine with a DIY-able Astra, though in the unlikely event that it's a GM 'family II' type unit the only saving grace is that it's a dead easy engine to do a HG on.... even a total retard like me can do it without totally f*cking it up.

Posted

Dead easy on the Vauxhall variant, but hideously awkward and expensive on the Daewoo. Rotten fasteners in odd places, unique gaskets, don't forget the belt and tensioner too, check the water pump for play/leaks, I reckon parts alone might stand around the £250 mark before you start. Pattern parts are rare for these, I've seen a tidy late model one of these go to the bridge due to belt failure, as the parts alone to a trader were nearly 600 sheets. If they've never done this type of work before, it's the wrong one to learn on. Best to weigh it in/get it pinched etc...........

Guest greenvanman
Posted

There is a product called K-Seal that may work, but I recon it will only be a temporary fix at best. Wang some in, if it works then get rid sharpish!

I can vouch for it working temporarily at least. It worked long enough for my mate to get rid of his cursed Alfa Romeo anyway.
Posted

Scrappy engine for 50 quid. Take your pic from any Vauxhall.Don't get the HG redone, it's not worth it.

Posted

Weigh it in. Pity, as I'm quite fond of these, but it's an 11 year old car with zero image in the mass market.My Dad's ex boss retired on a 6 figure pension and has a 95 Espero 2 litre. I've done various repairs on it, but he won't part with it. The arse is hanging out of it and it looks like shit (gold and black Hammerite). He doesn't even call it "the car" - it's called the "Espero"Amazing what engenders affection!EDIT: Station is quite right, 50 bills or thereabouts. Check for issues with ECU/immobiliser matchups, though. I know both halves of jack shit about GM, so it may/may not be a prob.

Posted

Esperos are ace and I won't have a bad word said against them, they are beautiful and I love them and I would have an entire fleet of them if I could. I'm hoping to hoard away a mint low-mileage one at some point, just to have one for keeps.

Posted

Scrappy engine for 50 quid. Take your pic from any Vauxhall.

RLY? Nubria 3.2 MV6? Sounds lovely, I'll take one ;)

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