GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk2 => Topic started by: mutant on 19 September 2006, 10:20
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Right, the valver is due a service/mot in october. Last night i noticed a gearbox oil leak, shouldn't be too major, i can just keep it topped up. Problem is, it's leaking oil too (its spitting it out of the exhaust if that helps, all over the bootlid). What im wondering is, would it be cheaper to get the bottom end swapped for a 2.0 9A (been quoted £700 for the engine and the labour cost) or would it be cheaper to get my local mechanic to find the oil leak, and cross my fingers that its something cheaply fixable? To be honest it couldnt have happened at a worse time, im upto my eyeballs in debt and havent got much money to spend on the valver til at least early next year. Why do bad things always happen to me? Hmph :angry:
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alot depends on the condition of the 2.0 - it might need rebuilt
you could rebuild your own bottom end for about £300-400 in parts & know that its gonna last you another 100k mile
where is it leaking gearbox oil from? driveshaft seals?
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I did originally want a 2.0 conversion anyway, although not until next summer. My main problem is lack of funds. I'm not sure whether it will be cost effective to find the leak, especially after having it stripped it turns out nothing can be done. Is it worth just keeping it topped up on 15w/40 until i have a bit of spare money to splash out on it? I can't rebuild it myself, I don't have the time, knowledge or facilities to do this, so it will have to be a garage jobby anyway.
Not sure on where gearbox is leaking from, my mate spotted it last night as he was having a general look at the car, just went out and bought some oil from it. Me looking would be useless, I know jack about cars.
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You sure oil is coming out of the zaust? Sure its not just leaking from the gearbox & blowing underneath the car & ending up on your boot?
Also if it was coming out the zaust it'd be smoking like a good un :undecided:
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Not sure where it's coming from. I've only noticed smoke once, that was white, a few tiny clouds whilst idling, thats it. No oil patches seem to be visible under the car. I'm really stuck as to what to do, I want to fix it but have no money, or not for a complete engine rebuild anyway. :sad:
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Don't think its at re build stage mate :grin:
How much engine oil is it using?
Sounds to me like you've only got a leak somwhere, at worst your stem seal or valve guides are fooked if its smoking on idle. White smoke is more likley to be steam, which is pretty normal.
If it were me, I'd steam clean the engine bay so it will be obvious if there are any leaks. Get it up on axle stands & run her for a bit, whlie its runing keep checking the engine from underneath & above & try & spot where its leaking from & take it from there. I should'nt be in a rush to chuck your hard earned away mate.
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Ok, thanks for your help. Gunna get my mate to sit behind me later, see if theres any smoke when I boot it. The head was rebuilt about 30,000 ago, so I doubt it would be that? I've had it less than a month, and put 3 litres of oil in it. Doesn't appear to be oil in with the water or coolant. How do I go about steam cleaning the engine bay, as I was going to give it a clean over to aid me in my leak search anyway :tongue: Rebuilding isn't an option anyway really, not until I can afford a 9A lump anyway, my plan was just to buy some sh*te oil and just keep it topped up if worst comes to worst. It's going in the garage in a fortnight anyway for the MOT and Cam belt doing, will the mechanic (Local garage, not VW specialist or anything fancy) be able to find the leak without stripping it?
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Looks like valve stem seals, small puffs of blue smoke when giving it some, head was rebuilt 3 years ago though. Looks like im gunna be driving it nice and slow for a while :(
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It'll be piston rings if it's while you are booting it.
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Is this a big (read: expensive) job?
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If its rings mate, then yeah prob a pretty expensive job. But don't write it off or start panicing just yet. Calm down dear its only a bit of smoke :laugh: You've got to expect some smoke from old motors dude. While its at the garage get the mecanic to do a compression test before he does anything. That will tell you what the problem is. The cam belt will need to come off anyway if its rings, so have that done at the same time. Or tbh, if its rings, bin it & get another block. It would still be a good idea to clean the engine, it will help the mechanic too. Nip down the jet wash with a load of poly bags, cover anything you can(within reason) which is electrical & start spraying, try not to blast anything electrical directly.
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Any idea where I can get a new block from? And how much I should expect to pay? Didnt think it was going to be the head, due to it having a fairly recent rebuild. Might just keep it topped up with crap oil for 6 months until i can afford a new block. Or will this damage anything else?
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Try ebay, for sale sections in various forums, E38 tends to be better than here for stuff like that.
here's some examples
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VW-GOLF-Mk2-GTI-16V-GTI-ENGINEERING-RE1900-ENGINE_W0QQitemZ320027903065QQihZ011QQcategoryZ9889QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
I have seen a standard 16v go for less than £40.
Or
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VW-GOLF-GTI-MK2-16V-ENGINE-GEARBOX-ECU-AND-LOOM_W0QQitemZ250030279615QQihZ015QQcategoryZ9889QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
or a nice 2 ltr
http://www.edition38.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=61023
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Then you've just got to fit it :laugh:
Won't damage anything to keep running it, it'll just get worse & worse & worse & worse, you get the idea :wink:
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I can handle worse and worse and worse until ive got my other debts paid :tongue: I'll see what the mechanic says anyway, and i'm already watcher on the RE1900 and an audi 6A on ebay, im just over cautious from buying from there, once bitten twice shy :confused:
Payday willing it'll be sorted by end of october, otherwise, it may have to wait til christmas :(
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Good luck dude, :smiley: