This will be a fairly long post but I hope someone can hang in there enough to offer me some good advice! I'm a newbie with motors so please bear that in mind.
Last October I bought a '00 Clio 1.2 (58,000 miles) for £1500. I didn't have much money at the time (and I still don't!) but I desperately need a car to get to work. I've a round trip journey of 60 miles each day so that's 300 a week. Anyway got the car put it in for a service and it came away pretty unscathed but the mechanic did note a small oil leak. When questioned he said to keep an eye on it. And when I need the cam belt changed at 70,000 miles they can look at it better then.
Now fast forward to today (61,000 miles) and I've just had a new clutch fitted which has stipped me of £250. It needed doing tho and the car feels great now. However that oil leak is nagging me.. I mentioned to a friend that I probably put about half a mug of oil in every month and he replied with 'Hmmm, sounds like your head gasket' which immediately made me break out in a cold sweat..!! Now I've not been keeping a accuarate check on how much oil I use so I was only guessing but I intend to be more methodical about it now. I'm going to put a tray underneath the car for the next week and record how much oil is dropping when standing.
So to the case in hand. Could someone give me some advice on how I should proceed with probem like this? Tbh I'm terified that it is my head gasket. Do oil leaks always have to point to this problem? Should I be taking the car to a garage now and get them to diagnose the problem? Or should I wait? As I understand it if I'm getting my cam belt done it's no problem for them to fit a new gasket at the same time?
Any advice greatly appreciated.
Last October I bought a '00 Clio 1.2 (58,000 miles) for £1500. I didn't have much money at the time (and I still don't!) but I desperately need a car to get to work. I've a round trip journey of 60 miles each day so that's 300 a week. Anyway got the car put it in for a service and it came away pretty unscathed but the mechanic did note a small oil leak. When questioned he said to keep an eye on it. And when I need the cam belt changed at 70,000 miles they can look at it better then.
Now fast forward to today (61,000 miles) and I've just had a new clutch fitted which has stipped me of £250. It needed doing tho and the car feels great now. However that oil leak is nagging me.. I mentioned to a friend that I probably put about half a mug of oil in every month and he replied with 'Hmmm, sounds like your head gasket' which immediately made me break out in a cold sweat..!! Now I've not been keeping a accuarate check on how much oil I use so I was only guessing but I intend to be more methodical about it now. I'm going to put a tray underneath the car for the next week and record how much oil is dropping when standing.
So to the case in hand. Could someone give me some advice on how I should proceed with probem like this? Tbh I'm terified that it is my head gasket. Do oil leaks always have to point to this problem? Should I be taking the car to a garage now and get them to diagnose the problem? Or should I wait? As I understand it if I'm getting my cam belt done it's no problem for them to fit a new gasket at the same time?
Any advice greatly appreciated.
