head gasket

hi all 1.6 gti top hose very hard once hot should i be thinking head gasket?
temprature gauge just  over half way when cruising

Possibly, although it could be due to something else.

How long have you had the car, and how long has it had this problem? Have you recently replaced the coolant? Is the thermostat working ok, and does the fan cut in when it gets hot?

Rich

Surely the pressure cap would let any excessive pressure off?

not if its not working. HINT HINT HINT etc.

sime6920 said

hi all 1.6 gti top hose very hard once hot should i be thinking head gasket?
temprature gauge just  over half way when cruising

Gold standard test for HGF is a leakdown test. A cylinder compression test, done properly, is a good substitute and more realistic in the DIY environment. Other symptoms include "mayonnaise" on the oil filler cap and smell of oil in the coolant - though these can be caused by a failed water-oil cooler (if your car has one).