Hey guys seams as though my Ford KA 02 plate is overheating. It is using a lot of oil and water but a no point have I had a light on dash even when the oil was nearly empty and the water. There is the old white smoke coming from the exhausted and a hiss coming from the engine but the dip stick shows no white creamy froth. I assume it's the head gasket regardless, if so can somebody tell me the rough cost of fixing it or shed light on what else it could be.

if its the head gasket your looking about 350-400, for new bolts, gaskets, head skimmed, labour etc....

It should be cheap as its a steel 8 valve engine and the head shouldn't need a skim. In fact I am surprised the head gasket has gone as its pretty rare on these.

going back quite a few years ago, when i was after a cheapish run around ie 600 top mark, i went looking at loads of festa's, tbh around 7/8 in my area and 5 out of the 8 was head gasket fault. mayb the same engine. just remembered my partners head gasket failed on him but took more out with it, he scrapped his 2001 festa as it cost more to repair than the car was worth.....