GTV V6 24v. More woes? Head gasket?

[CerberusUK]

I am fairly new to alfa ownership (about 3 months) and have had a number of issues so far and am seriously considering letting the car go as I am getting concerned I'll have to sell a kidney or something to keep her going.

So far in 3 months i've had the below work done

Door strap replaced
Air bag reset
Top engine mount
Clutch
Gearbox rebuild
Radiator
Interim service
New ariel - fitted myself
"Wobbly pedals" - fixed myself (don't even ask !)
Rattly front flexi pipes (due to be replaced shortly)

All in all about 2k's worth of work so far at a specialist.

I replaced the rad as I noticed that I had a small patch of coolant under the car. In fact the exp tank was still showing above the min. It never overheated or ran dry. There is no drop off in performance and no sign of overheating. Car runs at about 60-70 deg on a run or below 90 deg in traffic (fan kicks in abot 90 ish and cools the car to about 70).

I now have it back for just over a week and noticed a small amount of "mayo" under the filler cap and seems to steam from the exhaust for a long time (maybe its the paranoia demons !). Anyway, can anyone let me know if this is typical behaviour for a head gasket? Most of my journeys are short (less that 10 mins) and have heard that the "mayo" can be caused by this as the car isn't getting up to temperature?

Coolant is clean and green.

Any ideas?

[Stack]

Hmmm... I have done most of that stuff short of the gear box rebuild...

I'd be curious too... Ia m going to check my filler cap for chocolate milk... Sure sign of a blown HG

[Graham027]

Sorry to hear about all your bad luck, I've had a bit myself...

The "mayo" effect is caused by water mixing with oil, however a small amount near the cap may just be from moisture present in the air. The coolant isn't contaminated, which is a good sign. I'd check the dip stick, and If this is clear I'd take it for a drive, if the engine is running ok with no loss in performance, I'd say your probably ok.

My car seems to run very rich until it gets warmed up, I think this is normal? Anyway could be why it looks a bit "steamy".

[Muz]

An old test, if there was mayo on the oil filler cap, that was always a give away was to take the coolant cap off and start the engine. If bubbles appeared in the coolant and it had a slightly slimy appearance on the surface of the water the head gasket was gone. No idea if this is still the case with modern engines as I haven't had a blown head gasket for 20 years.

*touches wood*

The mayo under the filler cap is a sign of HG failure in very few cases. It is usually caused by using the car on short runs where the whole engine does not reach full temperature( as opposed to reading full temp on the guage). Condensation forms on the cooler upper parts,mixes with a tiny amount of oil and turns to the mayo like emulsion that we see.
If the head gasket had gone all of the oil in the sump would turn into an emulsion.
Steam you see coming from the exhaust is hot gas hitting cold metaldue to the car not being fully hot.If coolant goes through your exhaust due to a blown gasket you get thick white choking smoke not steam.

Keep a careful eye on everything (as you should with any car,especially Alfas) drive your car and enjoy it for what it is. When it packs up fix it then not before.
I sometimes think reading the tech forums on here is like reading medical books. You know, you you read something and its.... Wow, I've got that.

[Nige005]

Originally Posted by alfafamily

The mayo under the filler cap is a sign of HG failure in very few cases. It is usually caused by using the car on short runs where the whole engine does not reach full temperature( as opposed to reading full temp on the guage). Condensation forms on the cooler upper parts,mixes with a tiny amount of oil and turns to the mayo like emulsion that we see.
If the head gasket had gone all of the oil in the sump would turn into an emulsion.
Steam you see coming from the exhaust is hot gas hitting cold metaldue to the car not being fully hot.If coolant goes through your exhaust due to a blown gasket you get thick white choking smoke not steam.

Keep a careful eye on everything (as you should with any car,especially Alfas) drive your car and enjoy it for what it is. When it packs up fix it then not before.
I sometimes think reading the tech forums on here is like reading medical books. You know, you you read something and its.... Wow, I've got that.

Agree with this and yes you do have to watch the Hypochondria Syndrome. Take a leaf out of Bill Gates book - " If it 'aint broke don't fix it. ! "

[Alfa Vincent]

I second both these opinions above! Often caused by short trips in the car.

[CerberusUK]

Thanks for the info guys. I did start to wonder if I was on some kind of game show where the victim is being secretly filmed while everything falls apart around him.

I've checked the dipstick and all appears well.

I'll take it out for a good long blast and get it up to temp over the weekend (snow permitting !) and report back. Touch wood its just my short trips which are causing it.

Is it worth investing in a new oil filler cap? If the seal is worn will this let moisture in?

[craig matthew]

this was the case with my gtv took it out for a good two hour drive plenty of throttle and now its fine no more mayo

[Nige005]

Originally Posted by CerberusUK

T
I'll take it out for a good long blast and get it up to temp over the weekend (snow permitting !) and report back. Touch wood its just my short trips which are causing it.

Well it is nearly Easter and if the snow dont get you the sodd..g caravans will !

[CerberusUK]

Caravans and cow s*** ! Oh Joy. I also ride a bike and hate this time of year. Weather not looking too bad. May the GTV for a blast later if I can get out of doing the garden !

[Nige005]

Originally Posted by CerberusUK

Caravans and cow s*** ! Oh Joy. I also ride a bike and hate this time of year. Weather not looking too bad. May the GTV for a blast later if I can get out of doing the garden !

Just been for a blast in mine and it was a waste of time, every puddle jumper in Lincs is out there, GTV now covered in mud as 4 x 4's will not pull on the grass verge on the narrow lanes. Weather is lousy, windy with showers and, yes, snow predicted for later ! I'm staying home.

Hope you have better luck if you can get out there, even if you have the same frustrations as I had got to be better than gardening !

[Bruciebonuz]

Just had a look at mine and it has more mayo than a Sainsburys sarnie......but i use the car for a 2 mile station run every day so no surprise......and the car is running fine so must be the short trip thing.

[CerberusUK]

Glad I'm not the only one suffering this problem. Did manage to get out for a blast yesterday before the rain and sleey hit. Was out for about an hour and gave it a bit of a thrashing. When I got back it was pretty clear. Big sigh of relief !!

Is this problem restricted to the V6 or are there any TS owners with the same problem? I'd also be interested to know if anyone has raised this with Alfa? Is it a sympton of a blocked breather or something?

Originally Posted by CerberusUK

Glad I'm not the only one suffering this problem. Did manage to get out for a blast yesterday before the rain and sleey hit. Was out for about an hour and gave it a bit of a thrashing. When I got back it was pretty clear. Big sigh of relief !!

Is this problem restricted to the V6 or are there any TS owners with the same problem? I'd also be interested to know if anyone has raised this with Alfa? Is it a sympton of a blocked breather or something?

It a problem that affects lots of cars of all makes but is getting less so in more modern cars because of lower coolant capacities and quicker warm up times.

[alfaspence]

short journeys affect the majority of cars in this way, does pay to check the breathers every once in a while, not normally a problem nowadays, but the old peugeots used to suffer blocked breathers caused by emulsified oil quite a lot (with obvious consiquences)

[zulu ferret]

Two opposite poles here, with the machines we have I guess. One 'dent collector', 'banger' for short shopping trips, and the other for long outings in the summer.

The fair weather motor is only driven to the top of the drive on a fortnightly basis, the engine then run statically for half an hour or so. The banger, over 100K miles, also gets a ten minute warm up during the winter, before going on her shortish runs.

Fresh oil and filter in the banger at 3000k, and twice a year for the holiday hack. Fresh coolant in each every three years, and a brake fluid change every two. No condesate under the oil filler cap on either, both get checked very frequently.

I know a lot of folk say drive off straight away from cold, enthusiasts and automotive experts alike, but I have always done it, and will continue to do it, as was enforced 'up the hangers' in the military. Old habits die hard!