poorly mk2 vr6

[mush]

so yesterday I decided to take the golf out for a run seeing as I had completed a lot of work on her recently (not engine related) I think you know where this is going already....

so I was heading towards lady bower in derbyshire to get out in the country side mrs in the passenger seat, we were heading into chesterfield car was running great then all of a sudden smoke out the back, I pulled over straight away (did not over heat) and I wasn’t driving like a jerk off. so found somewhere off the main road to have a look under the hood. after inspecting all water pipes were rock solid and what sounded like water coming out the back of the head hissing off the exhaust. I’ll mention the pipe that heads to the thermo wasn’t all that hot like the others (was just warm) and im thinking its failed and shot my headgasket.

I had to be towed back and the guy said he doesn’t think the heads gone as all water and oil are still in there and doesn’t look like its mixed, so just said to remove the thermo and run it see what happens, so after getting back I did a compression test and x1 cylinder was down showing 105-115 others were fine.

so with it being a vr6 im wondering what to do now.... what do you guys think? I’ve spent to much to let her go
 

[Diamond Hell]

If you're down on compression then it's pretty likely it'll be a head gasket.  Bare minimum you're lifting the head off.

[Gti_Jamo]

What colour of smoke? But like already said, head off job for further investigation.

[mush]

White smoke, just turned it over again tonight and smoke again also smelt badly of fuel.

[Gti_Jamo]

So steam and unburned fuel almost definately head gasket failure. You getting a misfie? Is it chucking water out the expansion bottle with cap? Mind don't remove until it's cool if you've not done so already. Jammed thermostat the probable cause.

[mush]

It was misfiring a few days before, little lumpy as well. The coolant didnt boil over but might of caught it and shut it down before this stage. Thanks dude,  if its a duff thermo im going to remove and fire it promptly into space.

its amazing how cheap a part is can cause major problems.

[mush]

Ok so compression test done again properly today.

results were

170 on all but one cylinder which was 180

i replaced the thermo and tested the old one which was faulty on 1st test didn't open then opened on 2nd test, so great put all back together to try.

all was fine on bleeding and took it for a drive all warmed up, all power there. Then put my foot down on a straight and smoke started coming out the back again.

really odd. Only smokes when i boot it combo of white blue tint.

 possible cause? Anyone?

[EsSeX dAn]

it could be your stem seals are starting to allow pil to pass into the bore or its possibly a bit of oul being burned, the angle that the pistons sit in the bores cause this. theren nothing you can do really, its almost like a characteristic of the engine