2008 140ps Head gasket help!

[robrescue]

Hi. i suspect my head gasket has gone. Its loosing water. Lots of white smoke/steam when setting off in morning. Smell of coolant out of exhaust. Would you say defo head gasket or could be anything else before i go pulling the head off??
thanks, rob.

[ned]

Egr cooler, head gaskets very rarely fail on the transit. N

[man le-mans]

What’s the oil like.
Also check the EGR valve I would think this before the head gasket

[robrescue]

thanks for replies. yea oil looks fine. i think its just water getting into piston. Would egr cooler cause these symtoms.

also forgot to mention its hard starting. locks up like water is leaking into cylinder and causing a lock when starting.

would you try replacing egr cooler first?

[man le-mans]

Just bypass it and see if that sorts the problem

[robrescue]

Ill try that thanks

[man le-mans]

Also is the coolant system pressurised

[knobby1]

thanks for replies. yea oil looks fine. i think its just water getting into piston. Would egr cooler cause these symtoms.

also forgot to mention its hard starting. locks up like water is leaking into cylinder and causing a lock when starting.

would you try replacing egr cooler first?

When the EGR cooler dies, it corrodes from the inside and leaks, the coolant ends up in the exhaust, it's more than likely not smoke, it's probably steam you're seeing out the back. Yes it can possibly find it's way into a cylinder if the exhaust valve is open...usually happens when you part it up, there's at least one exhaust valve open at any one time.

Lord Knobrot

[robrescue]

Ah i see! Ill bypass later and see if it sorts it. Yes its pressuring. Putting bubbles into header tank.

[robrescue]

So yeah. Bypassed egr cooler. Still pumping bubbles into header tank. Gotta be head gasket. Spose theres only one way to find out.

[man le-mans]

When you say you have bypassed the egr what did you use ( 15mm copper pipe)
How many miles has the van done and what van is it fwd - rwd 2.2 or 2.4.also.
Can you post pictures of what you have done

[knobby1]

So yeah. Bypassed egr cooler. Still pumping bubbles into header tank. Gotta be head gasket. Spose theres only one way to find out.

Yours being a 2008 140, I'm guessing it's a 2.4..?? Or is it the 2.2 FWD..?? You didn't say.

We are talking about bypassing the EGR cooler which runs behind the cyl head on the 2.4, not just the two little pipes which go through the EGR valve itself...yes..??

Lord Knobrot

[robrescue]

Hi. Its a 2.4l rwd. Only done 80k but been towing a lot lately so been haveing a hard time. Yes removed water pipes from each end of egr cooler behind cylinder head and joined together with a hydraulic fitting. Will be around 15mm yes. The egr on this one isnt water cooled as i know some are. Th ka

[gotgcoalman]

sniff test the headder tank

https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/Bt-1-2x50ml-Co ... 400&crdt=0

[knobby1]

Hi. Its a 2.4l rwd. Only done 80k but been towing a lot lately so been haveing a hard time. Yes removed water pipes from each end of egr cooler behind cylinder head and joined together with a hydraulic fitting. Will be around 15mm yes. The egr on this one isnt water cooled as i know some are. Th ka

Ah...exactly the same as mine then....

If you're still getting bubbles, I'd do as "gotcoalman" says and get her sniffed....although head gasket failures are very rare....but not impossible.

Lord Knobrot