liquid in combustion chamber

[Dalo Harkin]

Hi guys,

I was having issues with my golf smoking, so I checked the plugs and the two on the right side of the engine (as your stood face on) were wet, didn't smell of petrol or oil, so I was changing them to NGK platinum anyway and thought I would whip the head off to have a look, nothing untoward so put her back together ans started her up, still white smoke.
Went for  a drive slowly and could see the occasional bit of smoke but nothing major so I tried to put my foot down and a big cloud of white smoke again.
I need to get to the bottom of this asap as this is now / soon will be my daily drive.
Anyone got any ideas?
There is no gunk in the oil, not losing coolant, I'm stumped 

[davidgtrr34]

is it using oil or have a high idle

[james2]

sounds like head gasket or the 2 wet plugs have no spark, but it would run lumpy

[Dalo Harkin]

Doesn't seem to be using oil and no it's revving normally.

They definitely have spark as it doesn't run lumpy until you try and floor it and then it's not happy as I'm guessing the liquid gets onto the plugs but it still runs while not happy

[xxChrisxx]

Two threads, the same advice from me!

Compression test it. Also if you are just looking at the overflow bottle level, it can be deceptive.

If you are getting lots of white smoke, you must be losing coolant. As there is nothing else that can get in the chamber to be sent out the exhsust.

This does sound like a head gasket because its in 2 cylinders. Though could be a cracked head or block.

[Dalo Harkin]

right its been inspected by a garage I know and trust and they took one of the intercooler pipes off and the intercooler was full of oil, they said the turbo is definitely shot but they said its best to not just replace the turbo and they would like to find out what has caused it.. they said that piston rings sticking are a common fault for these cars??

They are going to do a compression test but I am wondering if its worth getting all this work done or just break it now.

recon turbo - £250
fitting - unknown probably £250 minimum - plus whatever else they may find wrong with the rings etc..

does all the above seem right to anyone that knows more about the turbos on these cars?

[james2]

I would fix it. Sounds like the turbo oil seal has gone if it loads of smoke on full boost.

[rockmonkey69]

right its been inspected by a garage I know and trust and they took one of the intercooler pipes off and the intercooler was full of oil, they said the turbo is definitely shot but they said its best to not just replace the turbo and they would like to find out what has caused it.. they said that piston rings sticking are a common fault for these cars??

They are going to do a compression test but I am wondering if its worth getting all this work done or just break it now.

recon turbo - £250
fitting - unknown probably £250 minimum - plus whatever else they may find wrong with the rings etc..

does all the above seem right to anyone that knows more about the turbos on these cars?

Just do it yourself to save labour costs, you already took the head off before.

[gazareth]

could be a blocked turbo oil feed pipe. they have a tiny mesh filter in them that clogs very easily if oil gets dirty. so if your going to change turbo make sure the pipe is cleaned out spotless or renewed.

[Dalo Harkin]

Compression test came back as good.

So looking like a new turbo, now I am wondering to take mine off and then get it recon/refurbished or just buy a used one - I don't want to make a habit out of changing the turbo.

Also I replace the turbo oil feed pipe every year