I was driving my 2002 1.5 clio diesel (78K) the other day when the engine started to make a gurgling noise. I pulled over straight away, turned the engine off and smoke started coming out of the bonnet. After a few minutes, I opened the bonnet and found oil smoking at the back of the engine area. This all happened within a matter of minutes. The car was towed home and left for a couple of weeks as we were going on holiday.

Three weeks later, the car starts first time and the engine seems to run fine. I am told that the oil has come up through the coolant. There appears to be no coolant in the engine when the dip stick is checked. There is oil in the engine albeit a bit low since it has escaped from somewhere! There was no warning of this, the engine did not lose power or pour smoke out the back, no engine warning lights came on either. The car was serviced a couple of months ago (approx 2000miles).

The garage that I have spoken to seems to think it might be a head gasket, however another mechanice said it might be the heat exchanger since there is no sign of water in the engine and the car runs and starts fine. I have a very minimum budget, what would experience people think the problem is and the actions to take?

Thanking you all in advance, Lisa