Possible head gasket......hopefully not!

[Fadams9]

Hi there, Just bought a 2.0 156 with a busted radiator... and i mean busted! rotten! Replaced that then refilled with water. I let it tick over for a little while (with cap on) and there were a few bubbles, water dropped, filled it up again and replaced cap. Engine temp had just come up to 50 so took it for a 3mile drive. Got back and temp was up way over 90 but no light on. The fan was running though.
How long can it take for the system to bleed itself?
I decided head gasket must be gone due to bubbles in the water and cream in the cap, only in the cap though, not the whole engine. just drained the water system by taking off the lower hose from the engine, caught all the water but there was only 3.2 litres, there should be 6.9L. Would the engine hold that much without draining? obviously there will be a bit left in but not over half of it surely.
I'm unsure of what has gone and unfortunately have no access to a tester for the water bottle to ensure the bubbles aren't from the head gasket.
Any help would be much appreciated!

[Rockhopper]

Only way to be sure is to sniff the header tank. Whats the dip stick like?

[Fadams9]

the dip stick is fairly clean, no creamyness, cant smell alot from the header tank, can hear a gurgling when its running, not a massive amount though.

[LeeMc]

run it without cap on, if it bubbles whilst its off (and warm) then quite likely a gasket prob

When I change coolant I always run it for a while with cap off, turn off when warm, leave, go back and top up (with coolant, not water), cap on

[Rockhopper]

When i say sniff the header tank i meant with a CO sniffer!
Sounds like you have a fairly major airlock in there to be honest.

[seymour beaver]

Presumably you undid the little tap/bleedscrew on the top of the radiator when filling it up and i think theres also one in the pipework i may be wrong.

[Rockhopper]

I'm fairly sure the TS is self bleeding, no need to undo screws or anything else.

[iainfm]

Some, if not all, of the rads I've seen have a bleed screw at the top...