Any mechanics out there?

[AudiA8Quattro]

Don't agree with you there mate 
Try buying a decent steel rule, a very small amount of distortion is allowed.
If you use geniune parts it shouldn't blow again.
Its up to you, skim or not to skim, 40 quid sounds quite cheap.
I've done a fair few gaskets, never had to skim a head yet, never had a problem.
Most the time the gaskets go again because people don't know how to do the job properly.

[-HellRaza-]

hey,

        wow, thanx for the suggestions guys, im so glad i joined this site as ive had so much help, and picked up so many helpful tips, so give yourselves a pat on the back from me! and to those who set this site up, Thankyou... i think we all owe you guys/gals a pint!

so decisions decisions!, im gonna go get the gasket (what else is required?, head bolts, the gasket itself, is there anything else i need??), take it all apart and go from there, if i need to skim the heap then ill stick it all together with the new gasket and go get it skimmed asap!
 i have a load of other stuff to get sorted, the most major of those is the brakes (disks and pads) as ive been driving round with them grinding for ages...!  ! and as of today, (thankyou kwikfit  ) ive gotta go get my downpipe replaced AGAIN... 3rd time since ive had the car, im only going there again as its under warranty! but tis a pain in the arse...

on the carb front, ill have a look at it, do what you guys suggested, and if it improves, great, if not then a recon it is!, luckily i live 10miles from a Vw specialist, so ill get one from them... maybe...

anyway...

         hopefully after all this ill be happy with the car, and it will be good enough to sell and make way for my next car!

                                                          thanks again guys
                                                                Alex

p.s oh and if you were wondering what my next car is, it will be a bmw e36 318is coupe  ... tis gonna be nice!

[rubjonny]

It probably isn't a blown gasket, but just condensation build up in the head due to the cold weather and the fact the car isnt being used often enough.  It will take a good long run down the motorway at high revs to get all the mayo out! 

As for the carb the one on the 1.3 engine is the 2e3 not 2e2, so that ?100 one on ebay is no good to you.  Make sure the inlet manifold preheater is getting 12v when the engine is cold and switches off when the coolant is up to temperature.  Check the coolant hoses going in and out of the inlet get good & hot.  Then check the autochoke unit gets 12v when cold and has good coolant flow.

Last of all check the warm air feed, there should be a pipe on the air filter housing connected to a shroud fitted to the exhaust manifold.  Also check the flap is opening as it should while the engine is running, if not make sure the vacuum lines to it are getting vacuum.

As for the petrol smell this could be due to the rubber seal running along the top of the scuttle tray, check its in good nick with no gaps.  If its missing or damaged this will cause engine smells to be drawn into the fresh air intake.

[Tucker]

It probably isn't a blown gasket, but just condensation build up in the head due to the cold weather and the fact the car isnt being used often enough.? It will take a good long run down the motorway at high revs to get all the mayo out!?

Thats what i was thinking rubjonny hense why i asked the question on page 1. i would give it a flush and put some new oil in with a new filter.

Whats the point on spending all this money on a car that you dont want?? you will prob spend more on the car sorting bits out than what you would make by sellin it.

Major bits i would do like head gasket (if it needs doin) I would check the condition of the other parts you are on about changin and if they are serviceable then leave them. no point in wastin money

tucker

[rubjonny]

Great minds eh?

[herbster]

Hey, not been on this site for long so excuse me if you done what i advise, I had a 1.8 Scirroco a few years ago thought the carb was icing, it was the fuel pump not pumping proper, new gasket/diaphram presto sorted even had a autotune bloke out and tested everything to no avail, he said do the carb kit (fiddly things) didn't sort it took a presure read from fuel pump was rather low!!! Your mayonaise as you put it can come from the condensation in the engine, if the breather is clogged up that can be all it is, theres a few on  the 1.3 if I recall right the haynes guide will let you see hopefully? See if this helps mate if not good luck.