ZD30 EGR or Head Gasket?

[Ali36]

G'day guys,

Recently I've noticed that the coolant reservoir in my 2004 Gu3 is bubbling. I took it to a mechanic and they said it might be the head gasket when doing an overall checkup (no pressure test or anything). The car was fine when I bought it (340,000 k's). It doesn't overheat at all, I have noticed some loss of coolant and noise from the coolant when I accelerate.
I took it to another mechanic and they assured me they were sure it's not the Head Gasket because it's not showing any signs of it (oil, startup, steam from exhaust pipe) but rather the EGR. He booked me in to get it blocked and said it should solve the problem. Is he just giving me false hope or will this fix the problem?

Has anyone had a similar problem before? Or can make any suggestions? I'm not too mechanically minded but eager to learn.

Thanks :smiley_thumbs_up:

[Hodge]

I hope the second opinion is right .
I have seen one EGR cooler crack and leak coolant into it. So... There is hope.


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[mudski]

For the EGR itself to be leaking, is rare. The cast body of the EGR would physically need to be cracked and therefor pushing exhaust gases into the crack and into the cooling system. Unlikely in my opinion. Rather it would be the reverse and coolant leaking into the egr system I would think. Happy to be shown otherwise. Just doesn't make sense to me that the egr is at fault.

[Hodge]

For the EGR itself to be leaking, is rare. The cast body of the EGR would physically need to be cracked and therefor pushing exhaust gases into the crack and into the cooling system. Unlikely in my opinion. Rather it would be the reverse and coolant leaking into the egr system I would think. Happy to be shown otherwise. Just doesn't make sense to me that the egr is at fault.The one I've seen Mark was at jpc and EGR cooler had a crack in it and was pouring coolant in it.
I personally seen it. Hairline crack.

Rare , but it does happen .

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[mudski]

The one I've seen Mark was at jpc and EGR cooler had a crack in it and was pouring coolant in it.
I personally seen it. Hairline crack.

Rare , but it does happen .

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Pouring coolant in, but not pushing exhaust gas into the coolant. I suppose anything can happen though.

[Hodge]

Pouring coolant in, but not pushing exhaust gas into the coolant. I suppose anything can happen though.Well in theory when motor not running , no pressure exhaust side so coolant could seep in.

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[Ali36]

Thanks for the help guys, I think I might tell him to do a Head gasket check before doing the EGR block just incase. Not sure if i've seen a crack on it.

[mudski]

Thanks for the help guys, I think I might tell him to do a Head gasket check before doing the EGR block just incase. Not sure if i've seen a crack on it.

Tell him to block the EGR. Its a five minute job. If that works then great! Cheap fix.

[Ali36]

I'm pretty sure the guy said "I'll need it for the whole day" to block the EGR, just trying to figure out if he's scamming me. If it is only the EGR I could even do it myself.

[mudski]

I'm pretty sure the guy said "I'll need it for the whole day" to block the EGR, just trying to figure out if he's scamming me. If it is only the EGR I could even do it myself.

Ah yeah. Coupla stubbies mate and its done. Scamming you for sure if he's just blocking the EGR. Its simple. Remove the intercooler, on the RHS of the motor, a cast pipe come up from the EGR valve, and bolts direct onto the intake manifold with two bolts. Undo the two bolts, drop the gasket out and put in the blanking plate, bolt everything back up and its done.
Thats it!!!

[Ali36]

Ah yeah. Coupla stubbies mate and its done. Scamming you for sure if he's just blocking the EGR. Its simple. Remove the intercooler, on the RHS of the motor, a cast pipe come up from the EGR valve, and bolts direct onto the intake manifold with two bolts. Undo the two bolts, drop the gasket out and put in the blanking plate, bolt everything back up and its done.
Thats it!!!

Cheers! I'll just do it myself and then get the head checked somewhere just incase :)

[mudski]

Cheers! I'll just do it myself and then get the head checked somewhere just incase :)

Yeah its not hard to do at all. The CRD motors are a bit harder, more fidly than anything.