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Model specific boards => Golf mk2 => Topic started by: Chantuz on 17 March 2006, 12:54

Title: Signs of...
Post by: Chantuz on 17 March 2006, 12:54
Head Gasket Failure..

I have a dodgy feeling that my gasket has gone.. The signs that I'm aware of are like mayo in the oil cap, dirty brown coolant water, and petrol/water in the oil. Losing water and oil. Any others?

My water is quite dirty but hasn't been cleaned out for ages, on my to do list lol. Also I have to top up my water  every so often, however no mayo etc...

El x
Title: Re: Signs of...
Post by: 16v Matt on 17 March 2006, 13:09
Head gasket can also blow accross the cylinders, sounds bloody aweful, like a mis fire but worse as the cylinders swap gas between them.    This might not cause any of the syptoms you asked about. 


BTW, have you got some symptoms or is it just loss of coolant & dirty water that's bothering you?
Title: Re: Signs of...
Post by: rubjonny on 17 March 2006, 13:35
Overheating, white smoke out of the exhaust if its gone between a coolant channel & cylinder, blue smoke if its gone between an oil channel & cylinder, overpressurised coolant system.

Its better if you tell us what symptoms you have ;)
Coolant loss is most likly a fault in the coolant system, the plastic flanges on the front & RHS of the block are very comon sources of leaks.  Then the rad, and also the header tank cap.

Check for white crusty deposits, especially along the plastic end caps of the rad.  Its best to take the grill and the radiator fan shroud off so you can get a good look :)
Title: Re: Signs of...
Post by: Chantuz on 17 March 2006, 13:45
Ok then, I've got:-

Loss of coolant
Dirty water
Blue smoke from exhaust

I only just did the head gasket a couple of months ago...and that was the second time i did it!!! :angry: Sometimes I feel like he's saying yep 16 years is enough for me!!!

El x
Title: Re: Signs of...
Post by: rubjonny on 17 March 2006, 13:48
when you day dirty water, what kind of dirty, is it just black, or is it oily?
Title: Re: Signs of...
Post by: Chantuz on 17 March 2006, 13:56
Tis just dirty brown water.
Title: Re: Signs of...
Post by: rubjonny on 17 March 2006, 13:58
Cool, if it was oily I'd suspect an oil cooler failure.

First thing to do, remove the thermostat housing, both plastic flanges on the block, the feed & return hoses to the matrix & radiator, and blast it all through overy which way with a hosepipe.  Then fit new flanges, and a new thermostat & seal.

Refill with a 50/50 mix of fresh G12 coolant and water, then keep an eye on it for a week :)
Title: Re: Signs of...
Post by: Chantuz on 17 March 2006, 14:00
Will do :)
Title: Re: Signs of...
Post by: 16v Matt on 17 March 2006, 14:41
I'm guessing your blue smoke has nowt to do with your coolant, now that could be bores/rings, stem seals, valve guides. What engine & how many miles has it done? :rolleyes:
Title: Re: Signs of...
Post by: Chantuz on 17 March 2006, 14:45
Tis a 1.6 8v driver engine...has done 84,000 :)
Title: Re: Signs of...
Post by: 16v Matt on 17 March 2006, 15:25
Next question your honour :smug:

At what point do you see the blue smoke?

On startup, when its on idle or when you put your foot down or all 3?!
Title: Re: Signs of...
Post by: Chantuz on 17 March 2006, 16:14
That would be on start up Mr. President!
Title: Re: Signs of...
Post by: 16v Matt on 17 March 2006, 16:20
Prob stem seals then. :wink:
Title: Re: Signs of...
Post by: Chantuz on 17 March 2006, 17:05
Lovely...gonna enjoy doing those then...  rolleyes:
Title: Re: Signs of...
Post by: Chantuz on 29 March 2006, 15:28
Jus noticed that I get a load of blue smoke when it's been idling for a couple of minutes too... stil just the stem dealies?