[Mk2] [NA] help

[lufcraigyg]

I'll go through a bit of brief history, back in January i had a burst water hose which resulted in high engine temp & loss of all my coolant.

The hose was replaced, system was flushed, bled properly with new coolant, heaters were warm & all appeared to be running normally albeit in between short spells on & off the road since.

Over the last few days I noticed that the engine temperature has been 3/4 the way & fluctuating while driving but was not increasing to the half way mark or past it.
Then yesterday while stationery in traffic on my way home the temperature dropped cold, followed quickly by white smoke creating a pretty spectacular smoke screen

I've only had the car 4 months, my first mr2 bought for the summer so gutted to say the least. Managed just 800 miles in her during that time

Was it possible the original overheat that prompted the coolant change caused gasket issues which have just gone undiagnosed?

[danjama]

Did you lose any coolant in the period since the hose went? Check anywhere else for leaks?

[Peter Gidden]

Sounds like head gasket.

[lufcraigyg]

UPDATE: Looking like i don't have head gasket failure. A sniff test was done today & that was clear, the car still has coolant, took it for a drive no smoke, no obvious loss of power & idles fine, could have been i thought it was my car making smoke but possible i was mistaken

However a few issues...exhaust fumes smell oily? the expansion tank was near empty, coolant was flushed, refilled & bled in January so i may have a leak somewhere.

The temperature gauge issues as mentioned before appear to have sorted itself out for now after i refilled the expansion tank? gauge now reads normal for time being but i shall keep an eye on it.

[Peter Gidden]

UPDATE: Looking like i don't have head gasket failure. A sniff test was done today & that was clear, the car still has coolant, took it for a drive no smoke, no obvious loss of power & idles fine, could have been i thought it was my car making smoke but possible i was mistaken

However a few issues...exhaust fumes smell oily? the expansion tank was near empty, coolant was flushed, refilled & bled in January so i may have a leak somewhere.

The temperature gauge issues as mentioned before appear to have sorted itself out for now after i refilled the expansion tank? gauge now reads normal for time being but i shall keep an eye on it.

I'd never rely on a sniff test, but hopefully your gasket is OK. So since a leak is suspected did the garage pressure test the coolant system and find the leak?

[lufcraigyg]

I'd never rely on a sniff test, but hopefully your gasket is OK. So since a leak is suspected did the garage pressure test the coolant system and find the leak?

I'm assuming a compression test would rule it out completely? ill be getting a pressure test tomorrow.