Ford Ka help

[nicknox]

Driving up the motorway tonight the Mrs car has developed a problem. A quick loss of power, noise/rattling from the engine and lots of smoke from exhaust and engine bay. I've been informed that the head gasket has gone (loads of white stuff under the oil filler cap). Does this sound correct and do you think the engine would be knackered?

 

[seco services]

sure sounds like the head gaskets gone

engine should be fine just the head may need a skim new gasket, oil change etc off you go.

 

[ColJack]

don't drive it too far with "mayo" in the oil.. I ended up needing a new camshaft for my astra when my oil went like that..
no smoke warning or anything like that.. just daily short trips to work ( about a mile ) not letting the engie get hot, I ended up with condensation under the rocker cover and the water got into the oil that way..

 

[^neo^]

If its the endura engine, theyre an absolute doddle to do.

 

[nicknox]

Its an all cast iron block which I think is the endura. How much of a doddle to do?

 

[^neo^]

front headlight (os) needs to come off along with front bumper from memory, then after that it's plain sailing! Half day tops. Few fiddly bolts on the exhaust manifold, but thats about it

 

[nicknox]

Ta very much.