GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk2 => Topic started by: Goops on 29 August 2007, 14:36
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Hi People,
I had my golf gti 16v fully serviced recently:
-cambelt change
-both fanbelts changed
-oil filter change
-fuel filter change
-new brake discs and pads
Last week on the way home on motorway, my water temp light flashed - I did not have water on me so drove home for about 15 miles.
I topped up the water (without coolant) when I got home.
Yesterday on the way back from work the water temp light flashed again, i opened up the water tank and noticed a blackish oily sludge on the top. :cry:
Couple of questions please:
1. Is it safe to drive home by today?
2. I have read that this may be a headgasket issue!?
3. Also my radiator fan did not kick in when i reached the 120temp mark? Is this a worry? (checked the fuse in the morning and its ok)
I have rang VW and they are quoting 95 quid just for a diagnosis!
I am going to get the coolant tank flushed clean from a local mechanic near my work before i drive home today.
Any help appreciated!?
Thanks in advance....
G
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could be a faulty oil cooler... is there any steam coming from the exhaust on startup? check the underside of the oil cap on the rocker cover for any mayo crap.
also might be worth taking off the oil cooler and checking that over, or maybe replace it.. might have been distubed or damaged when the oil filter was done.
sure other people will have some ideas.
rob
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Hey Rob,
Cheers mate, I did not notice any steam but will check again at 5 oclock.
I checked for mayo on the engine oil dip stick and it was clean?
How much cost wise would I be looking at to replace the oil cooler?
Plus do you think its worth taking the car to VW? Seem very overpriced in all honesty!
Cheers,
G
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even if my car blew up and the only people that could fix it were VW i wouldnt take it to them, i'd scrap it!
far to expensive! find a local vw specialist, always cheaper, or even a competant mech should be able to solve the problem fairly qucikly.
as for the oil cooler, check gsf or eurocarparts websites for prices, jus bang their names into google.co.uk
if there isnt any mayo on the cap or the dipstick then thats genrally a good sign...
but still, im not 100% sure what it could be, but take it easy on your way home. if the oil gets to 120 again i would pull over and let it cool... not worth the risk imo...
rob
oh yeah, local place to me(i say local, its a good 20 min drive :laugh:) is quoting around 50£ for a diagnosis on my mates car which is a mk2.. still seems a little steep... first i would wait and see whats thrown up here before spending 50£...
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yeah VW seem to be taking the piss with those kind of costs mate!
yeah saw oil cooler for 35 quid on gsf, will wait for the mechs diagnosis today..
yeah will do mate, the temp did not rise on way to work (25 miles on motorway) finished parking up at 100 which i thought was good. Just not sure what the black stuff was and was wondering if im risking any damage to the engine etc by driving on?
Is the radiator fan related to this problem in a anyway? I only mention this because I havent noticed the fan kicking in last week...at what temp should the fan IDEALY kick in?
Thanks for all your help!
G
p.s where abouts you from mate, that mechanic sounds like a God send!
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hey,
Just popped to the mechanics:
No Mayo in the oil, and no steam in the exhaust...
Mechanic said the goo in the tank is rust from the radiator coz its old and knackered.
He also mentioned the oil cooler and said that was probably damaged/tightened too much during the oil filter change :rolleyes:
Overall the mechanic is quoting a new Radiator change (gsf) and oil cooler change plus labour for £70
What do you think? Go for it? I am not sure as to the reliability of gsf radiators, any pointers much appreciated!
Thanks in advance,
G
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gsf rads are okies, they do two types if i remember correctly, a normal one and a best quality one, obviously, if you can afford it get the best quality one... tbh, its a 20 min job to change the rad on a gold, litrally 6 easy to get to bolts, 3 circlips and its out... put new one in and tighten up the bolts and fill the system...
then, heaters on max, cap off the water bottle, turn the car on and keep topping up until the fan kicks in, once the fans kicked in, cap back on and ur on ya way, really easy!
not worth 70£!
rob
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Cheers mate,
I went down the vw dealer today and bought 4 bottles of g12!
The gsf rad one was the 17333 ...
https://secure.gsfcarparts.com/shop/results.asp
Wana make sure he puts the right one in, if you could point your diamond mouse at the right one, it would be much appreciated mate!
The VW dealers said a proper MK2 one will cost somewhere between 160 and 180 quids!?
So the question really is, go for the gsf or the VW one ??
I use the car daily mate, pathetic as it may sound I dont trust myself to do the job!
My luck id just muck things up! :laugh:
yeah the mech is quoting 70 quids - radiator plus oil cooler (gsf as well), these any good or should i again consider VW?
Cheers for all the help rob, much appreciated!
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best bet is to ring gsf, tell them what car you have and they will tell you which rads will suit it, ask for the price on their best quality one and get that. these are often either the same as what the dealer sells or just as good quality wise...
as for the oil cooler, again, gsf ones would be fine, and get the best quality one.
as with all parts, if you can afford it, then get the dealer ones... but as is often the case, i can think of a million things i could buy for the car for the price of the radiator...
good luck!
rob
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Cheers rob,
I have bought the gsf radiator and oil cooler this morning and will get everything in tommorow morning!
Lady at GSF parts swore by their rad so lets see!
Cheers for all your help mate, il provide an update come saturday evening!
Thanks once again,
G
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Hi,
I went to the mechanics with oil cooler and radiator and he said not worth doing a flush and rush job.
He said use the non-bio powder in water tank and let it run for 2 days and come back on wednesday for the rad change etc!
I asked for the more expensinve rad at GSF and gave me a Niessen which is boxed as: 652621 VW Golf Jetta 1600 td
I compared to the rad already in place in the car and the niessen one looks much bigger... I did notice bolt/brackets on the car tho....does this mean this will fit in alright??
Man this is dragging on ey!?
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not 100% tbh, if it bolts up correct, then a bigger rad cant be a bad thing... just make sure the hoses aint stretched and lookin dodgey!
good luck#!
rob
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Hiya mate,
got the original rad from VW dealer and got it in this afternoon!
Also replaced the oil cooler with one from GSF.
Flushed the whole tank with pressure hose from top then from bottom pipe up, man the crap that came out!
The washing powder did wonders, deffo recommend it to anyone!
Anyway, topped her up with 50-50 mix of g12 and water and let her run for a bit. My only other "concern" was that the fan kicked in quite late (110 degrees)...I have read on here that ideally the thermostat should kick in the connection at 85 degrees....
Worth changing the thermostat or am i being too picky?
Thanks for all your help mate, cant wait to hit the road tommorow morning! :grin:
Cheers!
G
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for the price they are (not much) then why not hahaha... give you peice of mind and then you know it wont want doing anytime soon.
only thing is, get a genuine one, anything like sensors or electrical, always get genuine to be on the safe side, not so apparant witha 16v i must admit as with the 8v digi, but best to be safe than sorry.
rob
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Cheers mate,
I drove into work today and had the eye on the temp, definitely made a big diff!
Got in after 25 mile journey with the temp on 95 :smiley:
Touch wood she seems to be running much cooler!
Il bear that in mind, I got a thermostat from gsf and its sitting in the boot for next time!
I am thinking of driving up to sheffield to see an old friend on sat afternoon...from here thats about 275 miles!
Havent tested the 16v on a long journey yet ( I am thinking 3 hours plus from heathrow!) U think its worth it or shall i stick to the railways!?
Thanks for all the help mate!
G
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i live in good old sheffield haha...
its about 4 and a bit hours on motorway (last time i drove to heathrow that is)
car should be fine, motorway journeys are pretty easy on 16v cars, thats the speed they like the most im thinkin around 70 - 100... not that you would be going anything over 70mph...
where abouts i sheffield does ya mate live?
rob
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yeah I was thinking of driving up but think train would be a safer bet to be honest! The fact that I am travelling alone (BORED!) and have no speakers in the car as yet would be a real challenge.
Im not familiar with sheffield mate, shes got a new place off Westbar Green (A57)? Was gona take the Tom Tom..
There loads of mk2s up there? I have noticed that further up north theres more of em!
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cos we cant afford new one hahaha... no, northerners have more taste in their motor cars.
havent a clue where that place is mate, ahh well... hope ya have fun in sunny sunny sheffield...
*looks out of window*...!!! it really is sunny!!!
have fun
rob
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ha! Im sure its the tastes that are better fella!
yeah might just top the tank and hit the road for a sexy 4 hour cruise if anything!
Touchwood nothing goes pear shaped on the way!
Thanks for all your help!
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Mate I drove up to sheffield on saturday evening,
kept the car on 80-90mph constant and man was I in for a surprise....
I dont know if its the g12 coolant in the system or the new rad etc but the car was as cool as a cucumber!
Got there in 2.5 hours and the max temp was 90!
I would suggest anyone out there to hit a long cruise in their 16v coz i could have sworn she is driving much better now! I came home same way nice and cool! pah! and there was me thinking sheffield was far away :smug:
Off the topic, my brother just rang me, he has seen me toying with the car constantly and has just bought a new motor.........
a Lancia Delta rallye edition!! 2 seats and a roll cage, full rally spec 2.0 litre with upgraded turbo!! Think its 280bhp!! Git! :drool:
Cheers,
G
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nice one :tongue:
well, think radiator and thermo and oil cooler are not far from the top of my list, still few bits i need though.
should be sorted soon
rob