something is seriously wrong then. The sensor must be broke cos sitting for an hour with engine running would cause the fan to kick in ie needle nearly hitting 100 on temp

Went to southend at the weekend, booted it all the way down there, then sat with the engine running for an hour in traffic on the sea front. engine didnt even reach 90'c it was that cold outside!

the more anti-freeze you put in the car the warmer the car will run, it dilutes the cooling properties of water, so ur more likely to overheat aka head gasket goes

50 - 50 is fine

my head gasket has jus gone :(. its in the garage now gettin a cambelt change, service etc too

thats the thing with coolant mixes n shit tho you can't win!

anti-freeze overtime eats away at the rubber hoses, and water rusts the fekin block & metal parts of engine (except alloy head & other alloy bits)

Is just mad! ya canae win! :lol:

I just stuck a whole bottle of antifreeze in there didnt bother with the water. says its goo up to -45'c, :lol: glad the car will last, i know i wont!

head skimmed not block

its not always needed, but is advised, as if the block is slightly warped it will cause problems probs 3-6 months later you'll need another new head gasket

main advice for this time of year is check the coolant fluid & do a good mix of antifreeze & water - 60% anti-freeze and 40% water is what I used to run, but when we had that real bad winter a few years back I just had 100% anti-freeze in the coolant & no water!
I wouldn't be suprosed how many people who's gaskets have blown in the past few weeks or other people who get problems through winter just have water & no anti-freeze

[Edited on 11-12-2003 by PaulW]

when the the head gasket goes is it just a matter sticking and new one or its it absoulutly set in stone that u have to get the block skimmed?

yeah i felt sorry for u when readimg ur problems. at the end of the day its all a learning curve.
As i said i thought mine had gone but its just condensation thank god

yeah it aint funny i do feel for these guys, i would offer to change the headgaskets for them if people were closer i tend to do 99% off all my engine work myself, i have had nightmare engine problems as most people know recently all better now though well almost

and not in a laughing way but a weird way if u get what i mean - just incase people started havin ago

just seems funny thats all.

I was thinking this today, there is a spell of these things goin must be the weather LOL

Is it me or does it seem as though everyones head gasket is going

It was just an observation. Thought mine had gone cos there was mayo type substance on the oil cap but its just condenastion
Paul:wave: