Sudden coolant loss...head gasket??

[cara_essex]

Hi guys,

Some help please for a damsel in distress!!

My stupid car is playing up again. Do you know I was led to believe these v-dubs were a good reliable make and ive had nothing but **** from it.

Anyway..just got in from being rescued after breaking down on the way home... was driving along and the engine temp needle, which normally lays dead central at 90degrees... anyway I noticed it was nearer 110!!! As i was thinking s**t i need to pull over a red light flashed up on the ignition so that was that, hazards on and I stopped immediately.

My manual told me it was the coolant warning lamp... quick call to my dad who came to rescue me and announched that I had a coolant loss somewhere in the system. He was pouring water in and it was vanishing. Anyway he filled it up with water and managed to drive it home... only a 5 min car journey and by that time the engine temp was scorching.

He rubbed the exhaust end and says that he reckons head gasket has gone as there was wetness at the exhaust end or something which shouldnt be there????

Any ideas guys as my dad was just using his general car knowledge whereas you all know VWs perfectly.

Please tell me its not the head gasket as I believe theyre rather expensive

Anyway its a lovely blue car only 82k miles....any takers????

Seriously...any ideas as you all know golfs or are these symptoms pointing to the obvious which i have stated above.

Thanks

Cara

[cara_essex]

Anyone?.....please

thanks!

[nicmas2000]

hello have you got air bubbling in your header tank? what sort of car have you got? i'm also thinking that water is a biproduct of combustion so some water at your exhaust is ok but if you cant see where the water your putting in is going then h/g i guess

[KeithS]

Fill it up with water and check for leaks, it should be fairly obvious if its losing so much coolant. I'd hazard a guess its more likely to be a split hose or a punctured radiator than a head gasket.

[saint_78]

from what i understand about head gaskets if your car is cold and you check the oil dip stick if water/coolant is mixing with the oil it will leave you with a creamy-brown mix rather than your standard oil

and water in your exhaust i agree with nicmas2000 water can build up in your exhaust system especially if it doesn't get hot enough this can cause your exhaust to rot inside to out.

also again good idea to check all the hose's and clips for splits and aging and if coolant level drops quickly it should be obvious

what model car do you have?

[Crasher]

Cara, what is the engine code or at least size and car year?