Gti 6 Should I Change The Head Gasket?

[Clapton_Is_God 21 1 Cars]

Hello All,

 

I'm currently cleaning up a GTI 6 engine with a view to giving it a lick of paint, replacement cambelt and water pump. My intention was to change the head gasket also for piece of mind but several people have suggested to leave it alone. People who have no knowledge of these engines I should add.

 

It's a 59,000 mile engine with no issues that I know off but surely it will be easier to clean and paint with the head off. Is it worth it or should I leave it be? Would I really be opening up a can of worms for no good reason?

 

Any thoughts welcome.

[Miles 331 1 Cars]

No problems with getting the HG change, but the prep is where it costs money, Head strip, Stem Seals and possible face off, But for the sake of £300.00 ish worth doing for piece of mind

[welshpug 1,657]

Definitely get it done given the age of them now, even the nice mls standard gasket isnt infallible.

 

corrosion can be an issue.

[Clapton_Is_God 21 1 Cars]

Good advice, thank you both.

[allye 530 3 Cars]

Absolutely! Just because its low millage doesn't mean its had good coolant forever. Although stem seals and a full strip is a good idea you could just change out the gasket for a new one and leave the head alone.

[dobboy 231 2 Cars]

I'm getting my head skimmed for £30, valves faced off and ground in? for £1.50 each, a tolerance check of everything for £30 and a full head gasket kit for £70..... (all nett of the dreaded).

 

On two spare engines i have and and taken the heads of recently both gaskets were poor looking, one engine had timing belt snap the other was ok. But i would say both probably had a hard life, but even low mileage GTI6 engines probably have.

 

I'd change it if i was you, especially if you have the engine out as you'd kick yourself for not doing it if something went wrong further down the line.

[Mattr5uk 20 5 Cars]

Is this an engine that's already fitted?

 

If your planning on painting it you may as well take the head off IMO, its a bit like a car doesn't matter how shiny and pretty it looks you don't know what's underneath till you look.

[Clapton_Is_God 21 1 Cars]

Thank you for your replies!

 

It's not currently fitted, it's on an engine stand.

 

I decided to remove the head to change the gasket. I checked it wasn't bowed and decided to refit it without a skim and a new gasket. Unfortunately the socket slipped off the head bolt and sheered pieces of the bolt off into the oil galleries of the head. I've had to take it off again and do a full strip in order to flush it through and remove all the pieces of broken head bolt.

 

Needless to say, I'm rather unhappy