Engine Trouble

[etienne_marais]

New oil + water = Brown oil?

Apparently it has something to do with a chemical reaction with the coolant.

 

[etienne_marais]

Apparently it has something to do with a chemical reaction with the coolant.

My colleagues say not so. It is simply how dirty oil mixed with water looks...

 

[etienne_marais]

My colleagues say not so. It is simply how dirty oil mixed with water looks...

https://www.google.com/search?site=&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1152&bih=644&q=dirty+oil&oq=dirty+oil&gs_l=img.3..0l10.1312.2622.0.2916.9.7.0.0.0.0.356.356.3-1.1.0....0...1ac.1.64.img..8.1.354.EzRdIGenIRk#tbm=isch&q=blown+head+gasket+oil

Note this one:

 

[Sinbad]

Something else to bear in mind
Car only driven short distances never heats the oil up enough to evaporate any water condensing in the engine. That can also account for milky-looking oil.

Try doing an oil change and flush and see if that improves the ticking noise.

 

[etienne_marais]

Something else to bear in mind
Car only driven short distances never heats the oil up enough to evaporate any water condensing in the engine. That can also account for milky-looking oil.

Try doing an oil change and flush and see if that improves the ticking noise.

Thanks Sinbad, but the car is already taken in and they have confirmed that the head gasket was indeed blown. I think they said they also did a 'pressure test'.

 

[Segg]

Thanks Sinbad, but the car is already taken in and they have confirmed that the head gasket was indeed blown. I think they said they also did a 'pressure test'.

A pressure test, or a compression test?

 

[etienne_marais]

A pressure test, or a compression test?

Sorry, compression test.

 

[ponder]

Initial guestimate of costs: R8000 to R8500 (incl. new head gasket & skimming). If the official quote is too high I will look for alternatives. (I took it to Carnetics in Centurion).

Sounds high.

 

[etienne_marais]

Sounds high.

I agree. MY gut feeling is to however take my chances with them (knowing my chances of a bugger-up or future problems are less than the current alternatives I'm aware of). Ironically perhaps, if I had more money available I would go for (gamble on) a cheaper option knowing that I can do more repairs later. Life's lovely crossroads or am I doing this all wrong ?