my step dads new and screwd corsa sport need HELP!!!!

[corsaboi1992]

Hi,

My step dad and I went to the scrap yard today lookin for parts for my 1.2. Whilst there we found a salvage yard selling motors where we found an R reg 1.4 sport in black with mot on it til nov 09 and 73k on the clock for £295. I got the key and we started it up it ran fine although there was a white powdery residue over the engine. We didnt think much of it and went and see the fella we got him down to £295 and he would deliver it for that price. We popped off to get some cash for a deposit and when we got back my step dads mechanic was there looking for something to do up and sell. We asked him to have a look and he said walk away as the 1.4 16v engine is pants basically. there was a brown caramel sludge in the oil. But still it ran well. We told the fella that we weren't interested, Then hung around the corsa was then moved,We was told it was going to be cleaned up and checked out by his mechanic. Bout half an hr later the car was back,We were told that he suspected a small hole somewhere leaking water thru. I asked if I could run it up for a while to see what it did, We ran it up for a good 25mins, The engine management light stayed on but the fan didnt come on so this may have been the reason it overheated for this problem to occure. In the end we asked if he would do a deal for the car, So in the end we got it for £250 delivered (BARGAIN). Has anyone had a similar problem??
We thought are 1st way to go was to give it an engine flush drain the oil clean the sump out new filter oil and put a stop leak in the water system.
The cars for my mum and she dont go far, So this may cure it for a while.
Any ideas?? Photo's up soon.

Jack

[Octane2097]

the fan not comming on seems to be a common fault,
could be a fault thermostat, which would cause the engine light to come on and stay on, because it cant turn the fan on,
most people fix it by just wiring the fan to stay on whenever the engine is on, still will give u the engine light because it cant turn the fan on, but this dosnt matter as it cant turn the fan on, because its already on.

powder on the engine? dunno usualy u get a thick milky stuff if your hedgaskets goin, possible that its just dired up and turned to powder, then again without actualy seeing it i couldnt say what it is.
did your car have airbags? possible that its dust from an old airbag going off, i dunno.

as for the camamel in the oil, i have no idea maybe the oil is just really really old honestly couldnt say

[1800turbogte]

Hi all, Im new on the site, Also im Jacks stepdad.
I recon the headgasket is goin to, normally brown sludge in the oil means that water is getting in the oil doesn't it?
How easy would it be to change the thermostat on the 1.4 16v engine?
Iv been thru all the history and cant find any info saying its been serviced since about 54k. So wish us luck. Also its got different alloys on the car and you'v guessed it no locking wheel nut key. so got to wrestle them off.

Chris

[Octane2097]

usualy if water is in the engine oil it floats on top, as oil is heavier than water, and as silly as it sounds is waterproof.
done a quick search about and as far as i can tell, if your oil is sludgy nothing is wrong its just seriously time for an oil change.
ether its because hasnt been cahnged for ages or because of cheap rubbish oil
once the oil has become saturated from all the muck in your engine it aparnly goes like that.

themostat shouldnt be a big job but as i dont know enought about the 1.4 16v engine i couldnt say where it is or how to do it unfortunatly
but it shouldnt be too big a job.

[1800turbogte]

usualy if water is in the engine oil it floats on top, as oil is heavier than water, and as silly as it sounds is waterproof.
done a quick search about and as far as i can tell, if your oil is sludgy nothing is wrong its just seriously time for an oil change.
ether its because hasnt been cahnged for ages or because of cheap rubbish oil
once the oil has become saturated from all the muck in your engine it aparnly goes like that.

themostat shouldnt be a big job but as i dont know enought about the 1.4 16v engine i couldnt say where it is or how to do it unfortunatly
but it shouldnt be too big a job.

Thanks mate, Appreciate the advice we'l post our progress.

Chris

[markd3925]

would guess at head gasket smell the coolant if it smells of exhaust fumes its the head gasket also if there is alot of pressure in the coolant tank just after start up its also a sign of head gasket
still a good price