Evening all have been out for a blast . have come back removed the rad cap to find small amount of clean oil on the top of the water . I think i know the answer but could somebody please tell me the bad news . By the way running 2ltr silver top zetec engine. I have also noticed that it appears to run rough at idle could this be something to do with it . Thanks in advance

looks like someones doing a head gasket at the weekend

Oh yes it certainly does

hi, think i saw you on old A130 at Rettendon heading south tonight. Sounds like head gasket to me too. Hope to go to see Marc & Chris next month to order mine. Told my wife she is getting retail therapy in Harrogate!

Probably a bit of a long shot but are you running the small water to oil cooler above the oil filter like this?
sorry about crap picture !!!!!!
As I said a long shot but worth a look if you are running it?
Cheers Davie

Don't take cylinder head off without doing further checks. It could be the gasket but -

Was the engine overheating? Had the cooling system pressurised? Had you used any water during the run? Why hadn't the oil emulsified as it would if head gasket has gone?

Do you have an oil to water oil cooler fitted? If so look there first.

Don't get this lot to diagnose your problem, can't be done sat at a computer screen can it?

Take it to a local garage, one who can carry out a gas test (checking for exhaust gases in the cooling system)

quote:

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Originally posted by david walker
Don't take cylinder head off without doing further checks. It could be the gasket but -

Was the engine overheating? Had the cooling system pressurised? Had you used any water during the run? Why hadn't the oil emulsified as it would if head gasket has gone?

Do you have an oil to water oil cooler fitted? If so look there first.

Don't get this lot to diagnose your problem, can't be done sat at a computer screen can it?

Take it to a local garage, one who can carry out a gas test (checking for exhaust gases in the cooling system)

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No need to rush to judgement. Drive it for a while and see if the 'problem' continues. Unlikely to suddenly go bang.

if the water can have a bit of oil,

cant the sump then on his part contain water??

both channels are pressurized

i would remove the oil, also i donīt untherstand water is more dense as oil is

sow infac the oil should be unthe rin the system not on top right??
(could be the coollant mixture.)

Tks

Numnuts,

How much oil are you talking about ?

A thin film seen on the surface ? or a larger amount ?

has the engine been rebuilt before fitting in the car ?

Regards

agriv8

Hi Numnuts
Good to see you last nite at the Turpin. Hope you weren't too frozen by the time you got home.
If it's clean oil sitting on top of the water & no overheating or water in the oil I think it's highly unlikely to be head gasket. Too involved to go into here, but if you give me a bell 07905 879407 I'll explain. Cheers Russ

as several have said, we can't really tell you. It won't suddenly cause a big problem though. First off drop the water out, refill it and keep an eye on it.

quote:

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as several have said, we can't really tell you. It won't suddenly cause a big problem though. First off drop the water out, refill it and keep an eye on it.

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I certainly got a film on mine that appeared over the first few proper runs.

But durring my engine rebuild large quantaties of Duck oil and engine oil were used and I am sure some of this must have got to the cooling.

Dropped the water and flushed the system all ok.

regards agriv8

Cheers guys will drop the water and re-fill , then see what happens cheers for all yor help !!!.