Could a water leak be a head gasket problem?

I just put a deposit down on a car. The seller says it has a water leak "due to a compressed water supply" which to me sounds like maybe a damaged pipe constricting the water flow. However, a friend has just informed me that the seller could be trying to cover up that the head gasket has gone.

If it turns out that the head gasket has gone, and the seller has tried to pass it off as just a water leak to get rid of the car, do I have any rights? It doesn't mention anything about head gaskets, over heating etc in the advert and I put a deposit down purely on the basis that I believed it was just an issue with one of the pipes.

Asked on 5 August 2016 by Mark

Answered by Honest John

I have no idea what a "compressed water leak is" so you better demand that he is specific before handing over any cash. Make it a condition of your contract that the engine does not have a cylinder head gasket problem so that if if does he will be in breach of contract and you can sue him in small claims. If it's an automatic you better also make sure that the engine coolant is not leaking into the transmission fluid heat exchanger.

Tags: buying a used car technical issues water leaks head gasket

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