Good garages in my area

[Mr Blue]

I want to find out whether the coolant leak was external and caused the head gasket to go or if the gasket went and then started to drain coolant. No point changing the gasket to then cook another with a hard to find external leak. Any tips to finding a slow external leak? It's what I initially thought as it was draining and leaving oil marks on the drive but I couldn't trace it.

Really not looking forward to timing the whole thing again, should do cam belt while it's off and water pump. All this just to return it to its former poor running self haha 

If the engine overheated with an external leak or broken water pump then there is a chance of a blown gasket. I've had my temp up to 140 when I lost coolant (split hose) and the next day it was fixed with just a new pipe.

Honestly just get it compression tested first. An external leak would be obvious and if it's not that...chances are its as you say...internal (blown gasket)

Very easy to change but garage should charge £250?

[Sgt_Lemon]

Changed the sparks and ht leads and got it running back to normal. Got a coil ordered to refresh the ignition system (had new dizzy cap and arm not too long ago).
It runs alright, still having problems with the throttle switches on the tb but will sort at a later date. The oil is all clear of sludge or coolant, the pistons are all black with no coolant marks. With the coolant cap off it doesn't bubble much (no coolant left so had to fill up and I suspect some radweld is still washing around causing some bubbles). The heater blows fully hot and cold also.

Still can't find the coolant leak though, are there any hoses that are hidden away anywhere or perhaps a radiator leak? Unless it gets really cold I reckon I can run it by adding water everyday but need to find the leak.

[PEZ_MK2GOLF]

As Mr blue says, check and see theirs no milkiness in the dipstick or inside your rocker cover because its sounding like your head gasket matey, check all the hoses and housings to the block for leaks the most common is at the bottom of the block where your thermostat sits check around the housing for cracks as this is pressurized, mine had a very fine crack and i had it of twice before i finally found it 

[Sgt_Lemon]

I have checked the oil, still looking clean. No milk invests in sight. Just a sneaky coolant leak that only seems to leak when the engine is off, and leak slowly at that.

[Mr Blue]

Any anti freeze in there? Use the pink anti freeze. Any leaks can be seen. Also check behind the block. Had a few 8v's with weeping core plugs.

or coolant dye but not tried it myself.