Clio RT 1.4 Rusty Brown Water in Coolant Bottle - Head Gasket?

Is this a head gasket needing changing then? Is it a big job, or can I do this with basic tools and know how? Cost for a head gasket?Clio RT 1.4 Rusty Brown Water in Coolant Bottle - Head Gasket?Not a head gasket, but just normal rust from your engine block. Your engine is made from Cast iron and the water jackets will go rusty due to a chemical reaction which takes place when the water is heated. You need to flush your system out and refill with an engine inhibiter mixed with the water.
Clio RT 1.4 Rusty Brown Water in Coolant Bottle - Head Gasket?
Rust in the coolant is just that,rust.But it is an indication of lack of correct coolant.Anti freeze contains anti corrosion properties.Lack of this is much more serious.If your coolant continues to rust the internals,you run the risk of terminal corrosion in the water jacket.This is seldom repairable and no amount of head gaskets will fix it.This is especialy true of alloy/steel/cast combination engines.Get some anti freeze and flush it out before refilling.I've seen this problem kill xj jags,rover 6's,renaults,I could go on.
Clio RT 1.4 Rusty Brown Water in Coolant Bottle - Head Gasket?
Unless it's losing water and overheating it doesn't sound like the HG, but you DO need to get your coolant changed! It's not a major job for a garage to do, or you could do it yourself so long as you're comfortable disconnecting hoses etc. Once the system's empty run a hosepipe through the radiator to clear out all the accumulated crud.
Your coolant is old. Flush it thoroughly with a garden hose. Wipe out the header tank with a rag and bendy wire.Take the thermostat out to do a proper flushing job. Refill with 50:50 water and antifreeze. That way any corrosion will be arrested. Leave it and you may be looking at a replacement radiator.
Rusty brown water is normal although you should probably get some anti-freeze. You OIL would look like dirty whipping cream if the head gasket had blown. Check the dipstick (oil level indicator) in your engine to see what colour the engine oil is
not necessarily, but it sounds like the cooling system need flushing out