["Big Blue"]

Hi,

I have something of a dilemma with "Big Blue", my Trophy Blue ZT 190.

After nearly 18 months of ownership, it is showing all the signs of HGF.
"It's a V6, it can't be HGF" I hear you say....

But the symptoms are as follows:
Mayo in the filler cap
Using coolant.
When coolant level goes down, oil level goes up - some oil blowing out of the dipstick.
Mayo in the breather pipes.
Pink staining on the front bank spark plugs. (rear bank not inspected)

None of this appears to be affecting performance, but the coolant usage and visible mayo is increasing, so it's only a matter of time until it gets worse.

The back story to this is that when I got the car MOT'd in January 2013 (3 months after buying it), I got a call to say it had overheated during the test. The cooling fan had failed (seized). It had previously been cutting in on at least the 3rd speed prior to the test. (Bad luck or negligence by the garage? your call...). I then sourced a replacement (2nd hand) fan and radiator assembly which was fitted - which in turn caused a coolant leak from the top hose to radiator o-ring. I have then used the car for a year since - the symptoms have manifested themselves over the last 3-4 months, getting progressively worse.

I am now faced with the decision as to whether to repair the car or not - I would estimate repairs to be at least £800 for x2 head gaskets, head bolts, head skim (x2) and labour.

My head says it's simply not worth pouring £800 into a car not worth much more than that - it'd be more financially sound to scrap it, and I car share with 3 other people, who rely on me having a reliable car to get to work but...

Every time I drive it, I get out thinking "This is far too good to scrap"

The car has the following going for it:
Full Service History
11 months MOT (Passed no advisories despite the signs of impending doom)
All 4 tyres less than a year old
All 3 cambelts replaced last year
55k Miles
No rust

However, ideally, it needs the following, as well as the engine issues sorting:
Scuffs on both bumpers
Alloy wheels starting to corrode (all 4 plus spare)
New radio needed
Exhaust keeps hitting underbody over big bumps
Gold resistor needs fitting to fan
A/C needs a regas
(Let's call that another £500ish all in)

Alternatively, I have the means to buy something a lot newer (approx 4 years old), in excellent condition, that would meet my needs and cost half as much to tax, and save £1k a year in fuel bills.
Much as I like the ZT, that's a compelling argument.

So, I have two questions:
1: Could it be anything other than HGF?
and
2: What would you do?

Apologies for the rambling post!