VW GOLF GTI 1.8T HEAD GASKET FAILURE

[wardog]

Hi Everyone.

This is my debut thread post on this forum but a very sad one    My trusted for years mechanic has just diagnosed head gasket failure on my robust golf! at 80,000k on the clock.

I returned from a meeting and close to home my temperature indicator shot to just touching red. The signal STOP! came on and I followed the manual guidelines.

The next day after cool down I checked the coolant reservoir and it was within the parameters (original coolant from VW factory)

There's no sign of water leakage and on oil cap inspection no evidence of coolant mixed with oil contamination!...There's no blue exhaust fumes either.

Can anyone educate me further as my only experienced symptoms are as above. Do VWs behave differently when the head gasket has gone?

Its as though nothing is wrong until you drive for more than ten minutes on engine warm up.

I appreciate any advice

Cheers guy's

Warren

[barrym381]

my guess is your waterpump has failed  does the temp return to normal when you stop driving it

[wardog]

Hi Barry,

After the STOP warning light came on and the CHECK COOLANT LEVEL came on I stopped the car, put it into neutral gear and left engine idling and the needle shot straight back down to normal mid way 90 degrees within 30 secs

Best

Warren

[barrym381]

Hi Barry,

After the STOP warning light came on and the CHECK COOLANT LEVEL came on I stopped the car, put it into neutral gear and left engine idling and the needle shot straight back down to normal mid way 90 degrees within 30 secs

Best

Warren

99.999% its your water pump then mate  when was the last time the timing belt was done

[wardog]

its the original from factory.

Gosh.!!! Ive used this mechanic for years and they did a pressure test on it on Fri. They said it has high pressure? or low compression?

This has gone out my league now barry

[barrym381]

its the original from factory.

Gosh.!!! Ive used this mechanic for years and they did a pressure test on it on Fri. They said it has high pressure? or low compression?

This has gone out my league now barry

if your still on the belt the car had from new i would get it done real soon and get your water pump done same time as its 60k or 4 years they need done 

[wardog]

Oh ok. I really appreciate this Barry!...so has the timing belt have anything to do with the high coolant temperature then?

[barrym381]

Oh ok. I really appreciate this Barry!...so has the timing belt have anything to do with the high coolant temperature then?

no the belt turns the water pump but the water pumps are known to fail and while your doing the pump its best doing the belt too if its not been done recently 

[wardog]

to be hands in the air and honest barry, I say the original belt from factory and checked through all my doc history from back when I purchased it and there's no receipts or invoices. I've had a quick check of the belt and it looks in quite good serviceable order actually. hhmm?

[barrym381]

to be hands in the air and honest barry, I say the original belt from factory and checked through all my doc history from back when I purchased it and there's no receipts or invoices. I've had a quick check of the belt and it looks in quite good serviceable order actually. hhmm?

any car i have bought (an thats loads) if it has no history of the belt being done recently i will have it done along with the waterpump as its not worth the risk