Head Gasket

[Screech16v]

Forget the oil cooler mate as you don't have mayo in the water system ,your losing water and its not leaking visibly and its not mixing with the engine oil? correct,so to me it sounds like a leak past the head gasket straight into a cylinder,does it miss a bit when first started,i would replace the head gasket but defo have it checked and skimmed as said ,saves doing the job twice 

[DRG Dubs]

Take all the advise you have had and give it a bash there is always help on hand, if you are realy stuck just message me and I can help you out with advise only. But have the head skimmed and tested you would not use 15mm when only 22mm will do(sorry I have limited knowledge on boilers and plumbing best I could do).

[Leon27]

Also as iv ordered the gasket im kinda comitted :/ Also when u say filter & oil must be changed, do u really mean MUST? I've got the impression from posts on this site and others that replacing a head gasket can be done in 3-5 hrs by an amateur with half a brain, and that oil changes are advised, not essential.

When you remove the head off from the block any coolant in the head can, and in my experience most likely will, go into the cylinders, the head bolt holes and the oil ways. So you end up having coolant in the oil.
Another tip is to blow out all the holes for the head bolts so that they are clear from oil and coolant. When you come to torquing the head bolts if there are any liquids in the bolt holes then you would be compressing it and this can crack the block. Also it can give false readings when torquing the head down.

[GTI-Virgin]

Ah thanks alot guys ) So if im gonna do my own head gasket should i take the head to a garage to get it skimmed while its off?

Also I got a few lads that work in garages coming back to me with quotes tomorrow@mates rates, whats a good price for this job with a skim aswell(im supplying gasket set)? As you say dont wanna do the job twice, and is rather get it done properly if poss(id prefer to do myself apart from dunno how to skim it & this is a proper busy time of year for me), ie-new oil etc, also bit worried about doin the timing without a kit as the other problem i didnt mention with her is she stops at 5000rpm, thats in all gears and at "exactly" that point throughout the range, so iv checked the MAF & was gonna take her in for timing doing, and/or to get her hooked up to diagnostics to check why the ECU is limiting it(thats how it feels, at 5000rpm its asif the fuel supply is cut off like a limiter), already cleaned throttle body thanks to this gem of a site I found, yes this 1  Im bored of boilers but alot of the skills will be transferable, im especially used to electrical testing & testing pressures etc(vacuum sections)

Looks like im buying the car back from him and sorting it myself as hes had a few "u need a new engine merchants" but Im used to rescuing boilers and im sure with enough perserverance & patience I can get her ship shape and eventually even running better. I didnt wanna sell her anyway as got her for a song-£600 in nr immaculate condition, 136k on clock but feels/looks like less. Id rather do that anyway as i sold it under duress, and it was ustterly fine till i let the guy take it empty  I got the car as a little project for me to learn more about motors and have already started with the RCL & MKIV Keyfobs. After finding this site I was gonna do all non boyracer upgrades to her(cept wheels & tyres, brake pads, speakers behind standard grills & maybe some subtle bodywork) sell her for a small profit and buy a 16V/V6, as engines fascinate me, these are great cars to work on and i fell in love with her at first drive. Shes a lovely example of an unmolested MK3 and im now a converted dubber.

Leon27-Il bear that in mind, and plan to drain any remaining coolant before starting, tho no doubt like boilers theres always a bit left in somewhere...

[GTI-Virgin]

Oh and again thanks aot guys  If I dont buy this car back i still intending buying a 16v/V6 by the summer anyway as these are great cars to work on(and learn on), affordable to buy and lovely to drive. and with am amazing resource like this Im soaking up all the posts and info, its Fantastic 

Screech16v-Your bang on m8, also whats a 20VT like? say compared to a v6?

DRG Dubs-Thanks again for your advice m8 and your patience.

Also, almost all women love golfs 

[DRG Dubs]

Also, almost all women love golfs 
[/quote]


Not true in my case the wife loves her 68 Beetle rag top when shes brave enough to bring it out

[Screech16v]

Screech16v-Your bang on m8, also whats a 20VT like? say compared to a v6?

I normally am  but not according to the mrs 

Well its lighter and has more power than a vr so do the math    .

Head gasket should be a dodle to you as its basicly a tear down,replace parts and stick it all back together,pretty much what you do as a job .Just pay careful attention to cam timing and torqueing the head back down in the correct manner ,job will be a goodun
Good luck

[GTI-Virgin]

Screech16v-Your bang on m8, also whats a 20VT like? say compared to a v6?

I normally am  but not according to the mrs 

Well its lighter and has more power than a vr so do the math    .

Head gasket should be a dodle to you as its basicly a tear down,replace parts and stick it all back together,pretty much what you do as a job .Just pay careful attention to cam timing and torqueing the head back down in the correct manner ,job will be a goodun
Good luck

So is that a 20 valve turbo? whats insurance, MPG & cost for a 15yr old un m8?

Also If I mark it up with pen I can do the timing roughly without a timing kit/light? Will that info & torques be in haynes?

[F17BAD]

Not read all this so sorry if its already been said

but id just replace the engine if the HG is deffo gone.. quickest fix

Surely removing the engine is gonna be alot harder than replacing the head gasket? I've read that for a mechanic its a 2-3 hr job and pretty straightforward, unless that is the head is warped.

I can assure oyu chaging a engine like for like will take same time or less than a head gasket swap.. you have to tear down so much doing a HG anyhow

We have done it and we have done engine swaps etc..

really would not bother doing the HG on a old 8v theirs so many engines available cheap

id put in something better tho.. 20VT is the best bet just cost you ££

[GTI-Virgin]

Not read all this so sorry if its already been said

but id just replace the engine if the HG is deffo gone.. quickest fix

Surely removing the engine is gonna be alot harder than replacing the head gasket? I've read that for a mechanic its a 2-3 hr job and pretty straightforward, unless that is the head is warped.

I can assure oyu chaging a engine like for like will take same time or less than a head gasket swap.. you have to tear down so much doing a HG anyhow

We have done it and we have done engine swaps etc..

really would not bother doing the HG on a old 8v theirs so many engines available cheap

id put in something better tho.. 20VT is the best bet just cost you ££

Ok, sounds like u have a garage and maybe a hoist, i dont. Iv never ever removed an engine from a car, also if i put in a better engine all the connections wont be like for like will they? Same positions? new ECU? etc...

From reading these forums and ppl asking about putting a 16v, or even a V6 into an 8V, mostly the advice is it would be cheaper to buy a new car....maybe not if your a mechanic with a pit, hoist, loadsa different fluids & oils, seals, and so on it may be easier & faster, but is it cheaper? HG kit & haynes is costing me £70, whats an engine gonna cost me? and am i realistically gonna be able to change engines, then make it work with an 8v ECU & Components? surely 16v, 20v & V6's have uprated gear in em to account for faster speeds, braking and increased stress on frame etc?

If what u say is doable BAD for an amateur non-mechanic doing it in a car park, how much & how long will it take me to drop a 20v in? and what extras will i req? And will that be doable in under 5 hrs?
Some helpful info for a clueless newbie would help.

Thanks for your input