Head Gasket Gone?

[Guest ollie]

Just bought a 1.9, had it 2 weeks (about the time I joined this forum) but since I've done an oil change and topped up the coolant it's started dropping coolant. Oil cap is mayo central and coolant seems to be dripping from places I'd have reserved for oil - most notably when cold. Oil floats on water once settled? Also when cold, can't get an oil pressure reading, fine when warm (probably has nothing to do with this?). I can't diagnose any leaks back to split coolant pipes so far.

 

When I changed the oil it all was pretty clean in the oil filler & cap (though I took 1 litre out and put 5 litres back in!) just a few minor yellowish deposits I'd put down to short runs, very different now. I'm pretty much convinced the cylinder head gasket has gone but could I be missing anything else?

 

Main reason for my post is can you guys offer any advice on cheap/effective repairs? I saw something called StealSeal.co.uk, looked like bulls*it but anyone tried it?

 

Plan is to make this a nice 1.9 GTI over time and this type of repair I think is beyond my DIY skills, if that has any bearing on the best type of solution to go for now.

 

Thanks in anticipation of your help.

 

Cheers

 

Ollie

[one-lady-owner 1]

Given how drastically mine went and how much grief it caused me as I got stuck away from home and work, (Disciplinary hearing monday 15th due to 'unauthorized absence', yes the company I work for are a bunch of bar stewards!!) I definitely would just get the head off and get the gasket replaced, there are a lot of very helpful people on here (who I may well be calling on to help if I get stuck with anything!!) so I'm sure there will be someone who'll give you a hand!

 

I know that's probably not what you wanted to hear but it's definitely the best advice I can give.

[Guest ollie]

^^

 

Hope you get yours back on the road soon. Hoping mine isn't the HG, but thinking it probably is...... :-(

Edited March 3, 2010 by ollie

[one-lady-owner 1]

I've just read the steal seal website, I've gotta be honest, it's tempting but that's probably the lazy side of me talking!! The lazy side of me usually wins, but I've already committed myself to doing this properly!! If you do go down the steal seal route, let me know how it goes!

[jord294 92]

^^

 

Hope you get yours back on the road soon. Hoping mine isn't the HG, but thinking it probably is...... :-(

 

if i can help in any way, just give me a shout.

 

i would say, if you can get a spare head freshly rebuilt and skimmed. i could do the job for you within about 4 hours (saves a lot of hassle)

 

i have quite a few spares just in case you need anything

[one-lady-owner 1]

Don't fancy coming down to Southampton do you?

[Rallyvan 0]

Theres no part time fix for a failed HG the ONLY thing to do is to replace the gasket with a decent one and have the head skimmed and crack tested whilst it's off (not as expensive as you might think) Once it's done then you know for sure that it's not going to put stress on anything else by over-pressurising the system.

If you do it yourself or get some kind person off here to do it for some beer tokens then you could be looking at as little as 100quid for the lot.

Hope you get it sorted.

 

Oli

[dcc 855]

There is no garuantee that the headgasket is the cause for your problems. If the engine had been run wihtout antifreeze or not enough, then there is a chance your liner seals could be at fault. also, check the oil cooler at the front of the block, as there was a discussion about these sometimes failing causing similar symptoms. get yourself a compression test, healthy engines are circa 190-195psi if I recall correctly. Cold weather kills unhealthy engines! I hope this isnt whats wrong with yours, as its a bit more work involved than the headgasket alone.

[Guest ollie]

Thanks everyone for taking the time to reply with advice and offers of help. I'm getting it compression tested tomorrow, will post up the findings. I will also check out the oil cooler today.

 

Cheers

Ollie

[supersub14 1]

if you squeeze the coolant pipes and their really solid (or pressurised) thats how i always tell if the headgasket has gone

[Guest ollie]

The compression test is postponed until next week, I can't get away from work today. I'm also more hopeful that it might be a pipe problem. Although I've mayo in the oil cap, the oil is still clean on the dip stick. Also the coolant is still dripping even though the car has not moved in 2 days but clear coolant is still falling.

 

There is a small leak at the oil cooler at one of the pipe connections, but the bulk of the dripping appears to be from the clutch housing both at the join with the motor and at a yellow cap in the bottom of the clutch housing. Is this a drain I can't find reference to it in Haynes?

 

Does this sound familiar to anyone. Split pipe? if so where should I be looking? Or could it all still be symptomatic of head gasket failure?

 

Cheers

 

Ollie

 

PS On a plus side I've just replaced a noisy rear wiper motor that was driving me mad and my new factory airbox assembly has just landed off ebay

[woodsy 0]

could be split water pipe or even cracked block.Iam not sure but there maybe a core plug at flywheel end of engine thats making it look like its leaking inside the gearbox.