I'm all geared up to replace the headgasket on my 53reg Fiat Punto tomorrow, its the 1.2 8v, so a comparatively simple job (though still complex compared to a service) which is good as I've never done any major engine surgery before
Engine has done 60k and I don't have any service history.
Symptoms are:
Mayo in the oil cap, wiped it out and there was a small amount back in there after just two short journeys, about 6 miles in total.
Re-occurring air lock in the heater matrix. Not actually an air lock, but you can hear the water gurgling through it on start up, and at the bleed point by bulkhead there is air in the coolant. Heater still works. I have drained and refilled coolant and bled, matrix still gurgles on startup unless its bled after the previous run.
Coolant loss. It was below minimum at the last check, and has lost a bit in the last week since topping up, though not enough to reach minimum again. Temp gauge has never indicated anything out of the ordinary, but then if its short on water the engine may have overheated locally? Or it might not have overheated at all and I caught the low coolant before any damage was done - fingers crossed.
The only thing that is stopping me from ploughing in and getting on with it, is the car is running fine with no issues.

