As our name suggests, here at A1 Diagnostics we are specialists in detecting, identifying and resolving problems with any vehicle. Diagnostics is in our DNA, and we have a team of experts here who deal with cars of all ages, sizes and makes.

One of our customers recently brought in their Citroen Relay with a head gasket fault that needed a full diagnostic from our mechanics. Here is the vehicle pictured below.

A failed head gasket can be a serious issue, with gases and fumes getting into the cooling system of the car’s engine and causing critical elements to mix or engine pressure to fall.

There are various indicators of a head gasket fail. First we can check the exhaust, looking for a sweet-smelling, thick smoke rather than regular car fumes. This suggests coolant is leaking into the engine and being burned. Overheating engines is another common symptom, and we check for solid coolant lines which can indicate pressure is being pushed into the cylinder by the compromised gasket.

Our mechanics conducted various tests to identify the exact cause of the problem, making sure our repair work is targeted and effective. Chemical tests are one of the first steps towards identifying the root cause, where fluids are monitored for changes in colour following the introduction of a chemical fluid.

A manual pressure test of the coolant system can also help us identify leaks. Conducted in our garage while the car engine is off, the test checks for quick pressure drops after manually prepping the system – this indicates a leak and we check the head gasket.

Finally we’re looking for bubbles…that’s right, bubbles! We primed the cylinder and set the pressure for the coolant system, then waited to see if air bubbles appear in the coolant reservoir. If they do, that’s a very good indicator that the head gasket is gone.

For this Citroen Relay and its owner, the outcome was a successful diagnostic service and high-quality repair to get them back out on the road.
If you spot any of the symptoms listed here or are concerned about your car’s head gasket, pop into the garage and make use of our expert diagnostic services.

Contact us

A1-Diagnostics and ECU Repairs
64 Sloper Road
Leckwith,
Cardiff
CF11 8AB

Tel: (029 20) 220380
Fax: (029 20) 223172

Opening Times

Mon – Fri: 8:00am – 6:00pm

Email: info@a1-diagnostics.com