engine was getting hot last night. called out green flag who topped up coolant and sai he couldnt see any leaks from any hoses or water pump, and there was no water in the oil. He thinks it could be a sticky thermostat.

Is it common for v8 headgaskets to go as im a little concerned, i have noticed white steam/smoke out the exhausts when running temp is up together, but i could be being paranoid?

 

darren, the thermostat can stick and should be replaced. If it was cold last night then you'd def. see the normal steam from the exhaust. If the headgasket had blown you'd def. notice due to a large cloud forming that doesn't dissipate. With engine cold, unscrew the top off of the coolant expansion tank and put your nose close to the opening, smelling for an odor of exhaust. Start and warm her up. Drive locally, observing for excessive water vapor from exhaust and coolant drop in expansion tank. Check back with us.

 

thanks bfgross,
ok il get it in the garage tomorrow and get it looked at, regards the head gasket, ive notice no loss of power or performance, and when the brake down guy came out last night he checked for water in the oil, and with the engine running we took off the expansion bottle screw lid and the coolant didnt have shed loads of pressure and wasnt boiling.

 

Agree. If she was mixing water and combustion there would likely be a misfire- studdering experience with loss of power. So all should be ok. Swap in a new thermostat, pronto. It's a fairly easy swap.