Head gasket? 8v GTI

[ImpactUK]

Hey everyone, I recently got a GTI and noticed that it's drinking coolant like mad. Today I changed my oil breather pipe and noticed a lot of creamy liquid coming out of the head, as well as on the oil cap. I hope to god this isn't head gasket because I can't afford to get it fixed, so tell me some good news?
Here's an image

[Gavv8]

Have a good look around the engine bay when hot for staining, make sure the heater is blowing nice and hot and that the engine runs up to temperature ok and sits in the middle of the dial.
If you can't find any leaks and the heater/temperature is not right take it to a garage and get them to put a 4 gas analyser over the coolant expansion tank to see if there are combustion gases in the coolant, also have a look under the oil filler cap for heavy yellow deposits.

[trog_nfs]

Get the coolant sniff tested!
That will tell you if the HG has gone.

If it hasn't, it is probably the oil cooler where the water is going 

[ImpactUK]

Thanks for the quick reply guys
I found some very old looking staining on the right side of the head near a pipe, but i didn't think much of it. Heaters are blowing very very hot and the engine temperature sits in the middle.
I'll give the expansion tank a sniff soon. What should it smell like if its bad?

I bought the car and it started to overheat on the way home. Checked the coolant and it was basically empty, so i filled it up. This was 3 days ago and its already drank 5ltrs

Where is the oil cooler? How can i test this too?

Thanks again!

[trog_nfs]

lol, sniff test is a laymans term for the combustion gas test - garages have a container full of a dye that changes colour in the presence of exhaust gases. If it does this when gas from the coolant tank is used, its a sure sign the headgasket has gone.

The oil cooler is on the front of the engine where the oil filter screws into. If you think its this, you can disconnect both the coolant hoses and connect them together to bypass the oil cooler. If no coolant is lost, jobs a goodun'

Sounds like you are losing coolant from the coolant flange on the side of the head. Have a look at the complicated looking one on the front of the engine too. Both are common for the seals going and leaking water when hot.

[ImpactUK]

HAHAH, now i feel like a moron. I was seriously going to go outside and smell the expansion tank

Right, i'm gonna go take a look now.
How likely is it that the HG has gone?

[Gavv8]

lol, sniff test is a laymans term for the combustion gas test - garages have a container full of a dye that changes colour in the presence of exhaust gases. If it does this when gas from the coolant tank is used, its a sure sign the headgasket has gone.

The oil cooler is on the front of the engine where the oil filter screws into. If you think its this, you can disconnect both the coolant hoses and connect them together to bypass the oil cooler. If no coolant is lost, jobs a goodun'

Sounds like you are losing coolant from the coolant flange on the side of the head. Have a look at the complicated looking one on the front of the engine too. Both are common for the seals going and leaking water when hot.

Had this happen on mine.

[Gavv8]

HAHAH, now i feel like a moron. I was seriously going to go outside and smell the expansion tank

Right, i'm gonna go take a look now.
How likely is it that the HG has gone?

The 8v is not know for HG problems but if its had a leak and overheated badly then that'll damage the HG.

[ImpactUK]

Went outside to have another better look and found this on the pipe at the front


Also, just in case, i did smell the expansion tank haha. It smelt a bit like petrol, but i can't be sure.

[ImpactUK]

Block test confirmed head gasket. Got quoted £450 quid for a repair, is this good?
Wondering whether to attempt it myself or just wack another engine in...