Greetings !
This is my first post on this forum. And the problem is regarding my fiancé Clio which is an 05 plate 1.5 DCI with 60K on the clock.
I noted it had a squeeky Aux. belt for some time and that it seemed to take ages to warm up inside the car. But seeing as it had been serviced ( by an independent garage ) I assumed it was just a duff thermostat and knackerd belt. Apparently though, the belt only starting making any noise immediately after the service to which the garage said " it was already doing that when it came in love".
Anyway, going along the motorway at 60mph, the temperature gauge shoots up by 6 bars from 2 bars to 8 bars roughly. Then drops back to 2. Then we smell a sort of burning rubber smell. We assumed it was the lorry in front.
We head down some country lanes, cars driving fine. We stop to check the map book, and I noted smoke or steam coming out the bonnet. I carefully open it ( being sure it was not a fire going on ) and the header tank was totally covered in a grease like gunk, it was all down the tank, and all around the area around the header tank. Once cooled I pop the lid off and stand a stick in the gunk. Amazingly the car could still run ! ( had to for a few seconds to get it parked off the road ).
Head gasket I presume ?
and how bad is it to fix as I assume the entire coolant system ( including the water ways in the turbo ) will need to be thoroughly purged and cleared out, head gasket itself replaced, etc. How bad is all that and how costly could be ( I'm thinking on terms of can a competent mechanic do it or is it a renault only job from hell ? ) ?
This is my first post on this forum. And the problem is regarding my fiancé Clio which is an 05 plate 1.5 DCI with 60K on the clock.
I noted it had a squeeky Aux. belt for some time and that it seemed to take ages to warm up inside the car. But seeing as it had been serviced ( by an independent garage ) I assumed it was just a duff thermostat and knackerd belt. Apparently though, the belt only starting making any noise immediately after the service to which the garage said " it was already doing that when it came in love".
Anyway, going along the motorway at 60mph, the temperature gauge shoots up by 6 bars from 2 bars to 8 bars roughly. Then drops back to 2. Then we smell a sort of burning rubber smell. We assumed it was the lorry in front.
We head down some country lanes, cars driving fine. We stop to check the map book, and I noted smoke or steam coming out the bonnet. I carefully open it ( being sure it was not a fire going on ) and the header tank was totally covered in a grease like gunk, it was all down the tank, and all around the area around the header tank. Once cooled I pop the lid off and stand a stick in the gunk. Amazingly the car could still run ! ( had to for a few seconds to get it parked off the road ).
Head gasket I presume ?
and how bad is it to fix as I assume the entire coolant system ( including the water ways in the turbo ) will need to be thoroughly purged and cleared out, head gasket itself replaced, etc. How bad is all that and how costly could be ( I'm thinking on terms of can a competent mechanic do it or is it a renault only job from hell ? ) ?