Stupidity I checked the condition of coolant and oil, but never checked whether it was pressuring, so it likely was. He replaced it with a lower mileage saloon, so I'd say he likely did know. But I'll know for next timeffs. I take it none of this was noticed when you went to buy it? You would hope the seller didn't know about any of it and wasn't selling it cheap.
I can lift the engine out and do the work myself thankfully, but still quite a bit of work doing it. Tempted to just do it and the belts, water pump and change the clutch altogether. Clutch is a little high, but the release bearing does make a noise when engine braking, unless trying to match the revvs beforehand
Would probably be £700 in parts for everything. Actually really enjoying the car, surprised with how good they are, so tempted to do it and keep it a good while
The slight exhaust gasses in the coolant is my big worry. It also pressurises the top radiator hose when revved. Dosen't use really any coolant however other than the small leak from the bottom of the radiatorSeriously unlucky. Definitely the HG? One of my old Octavia vrs's was showing all the symptoms and a genuine thermostat cured it.