head gasket failure?

[rd070707]

hi guys just got my 02 307 2.0 hdi 110 rhs back on the road after alot of work. changed the oil and oil filter yesterday and took her out for a test drive. it was driving really well and had been for the past few days. 10 minutes in i started to here a faint knocking, so i stopped straight away. popped the bonnet and there was steam/ white smoke coming up from the engine and she seemed very hot, although i had been checking the gauge and she wasnt overheating.

any ideas what this could be? car had oil, coolant tank full, if anything it screams head gasket cause when i dipped the oil an hour later, it was higher thank the max, so maybe water got in? bloody head gasket has literally just been done though

[spider]

That could well just be a big air lock if you are lucky or perhaps just a small coolant leak that got onto the exhaust (pinhole in a hose maybe only leaks when hot / under pressure)

They can be a pain (sometimes) to bleed out properly.

I'd start by ensuring the coolant is free from air and check the oil level again too, I wonder did you overfill it possibly ?

[rd070707]

no oil is spot on. took the car a drive today after opening the bleed screws. top radiator hose was roasting and so was the bottom one after about 15 mins. temp was up to 85. there was some steam though coming from the rad, looked like just a result of all the heat?

[spider]

Possible although I'd want to be certain the radiator did not have a pinhole in it or suchlike.

[rd070707]

well the mechanic i know said its normal for that heat to be in the rad hoses. maybe i should consider a full flush refill and bleed? and when the steam was worst was the other night when i pushed the car on a bit to 80, so maybe more pressure = more mist coming from a small hole in hose?

[spider]

Heat in the hoses is normal, the steam is not unless its water that got sprayed in there during whatever processes took place. If that's the case it should of gone by now, so I'd be tempted to say if you're sure its not got an air lock, drive it and keep an eye on it, it may not do it again in which case all is good.

[rd070707]

well when i drove a bit harder the other night thats when it steamed badly. but thermostat has been changed since. so will have to drive her on a bit now and see what happens. have i bled it right? also i drove for a good half hour or more today through town and it never rised above 85 and it was roasting today.