Just need to confirm that this is the HG before I fork out more money. I'd be gutted if I spent time and money replacing it for the problem to persist

Cheers

No no! It's not the gasket, compression test would have shown that. It's the head itself. Much more expensive.....

Confused. Head gasket or head? :(

No no! It's not the gasket, compression test would have shown that. It's the head itself. Much more expensive.....

Compression test would not have shown it, a leak down test would have as the constantly pressurized cylinder would have caused the coolant to bubble.

Leakage test and a compression test combined are ideal, one of each is a but vague and guess worky

If its using water through the gasket then it almost certainatly sous affect the pressure in the guilty cylinder. Thus would show up on compression test. As I suspect its the head rather than the gasket, a compression test would not show loss of pressure.

:( either way the head looks to be coming off. Once the head is off, how can I test the head for problems?

:( either way the head looks to be coming off. Once the head is off, how can I test the head for problems?

You need to get the head off and take into an engine rebuilder and they will test the head,will take a while as then put the head in a super hot oven to test for hair line cracks with a dye,if its warped they'll suggest you get the head skimmed until flat,if its cracked its a new head time...hope this helps..bty it should cost you no more than £50 or £60 squid for the service so shop around a bit .

You can get a head for that though I reckon.

I'll get the head off and have a look. But yeah the cost of testing seems to be more than a second hand head. =/ Although then I'm buying an untested head which would probably need a skim anyway.

Hmm. Cheers for input chaps

Ordered a headgasket kit, going to get a timing belt too. Lets hope we don't find any head damage!

My moneys on the head Tbf. But youd need the kit anyway

How do you test the head, engineering place that'd skim it also able to pressure test it too?

Yeah it can be tested for cracks using flourescent dyes etc, but not sure if it will be cost effective vs a new head