8v head gasket prob

[mpgscott]

I have a problem with my 1990 8vgti.

Low compresion on 3+4 cylinder at about 6.5 compared to 13 on 1+2, is it likely to be the head gasket has gone between these two cylinders as there is no oil in water and no nasty smoke.

Engine has done 108k and is full vw history.

Checked all the timing and seems ok nasty noise when uder load but im thinking this is air leaking from one cylinder to the other.

Is the head gasket going a common prob.

Thanks

[GTi5]

my 8 valve is in the garage today having its gasket done. i had water in the oil though.

[mk1]

May be the gasket has blown between the cylinders, make sure the head is skimmed and new head bolts used when it's rebuilt.
Blown 8v head gaskets is not uncommon.
Steve.

[mpgscott]

Do I really need to skim the head as it was not being thrashed at the time in fact it hasnt been fully up to temp since it has happened?

I mean when I parked it up at night it was running fine, next day when i started it, ran like a bag of s**t.

So I would of thought that a head re-skim was not needed.

Thanks

[golfvr6]

If the cylinder head is flat, and has distortions no more 0.1mm then it will not need skimming.
The majority of time the head won't need a skim, only muppet garages say that a head must be skimmed.