m-reg vr6 head gasket

[golf1.8t]

hi every one hope for some help ive got a vr6 95 not sure if the head gasket has gone at first the coolant light kept coming on as the water was emptying from the bottle and there was a small amount of white steem coming from the exhaust but then found it was coming out the over flow from the expansion tank tolk the cap and the rubber ring inside the cap had come off so out this back in then screwed the cap back on there has been no white smoke since the temp light hasnt come on but there is a trickel an a mean  a very small trickel of water comeing out of the tank is this a head gasket or is the cap f**ked shouk a get a new cap. also the engine does not over heat in any way it stays a half way at all time the fan cuts in as well any help would be great cheers.

[HARDCOR3]

take cap off water bottle, get sum1 to rev it, and check for bubbles in bottle, sure sign that heads on it's way, or check for leaks as it's been revved as also a pin hole in rad, may only expel water when it's bein booted, as mine did....

[golf1.8t]

any body else had similar probs as this im hoping it aint the head gasket as iv just got the car.  gutted im sure you all prob no how i feel that relay gutted felling

[golf1.8t]

also any body had a head done would the head have to be skimmed as well. how much has people paied to have a head gasket done.

[Judderi]

It doesent really sound like the head gasket has gone to me. You would expect a creamy looking goo in the coolant if it had gone. Just sounds like a dodgy cap leaking to me.

[GTI EDITION (aka LTD)]

The best way to check if it is the head gasket is to find a friendly ( trust worthy    ) local garage that has a headgasket/block tester. ( with the blue fluid ) saves a lot of guess work and without needing to strip anything down .
 

[golf1.8t]

ok head removed today gasket was gone on cylinder 1       now which head gasket to get payen or FAI coz im refuse to pay the stealer the stupid price they want.

[HARDCOR3]

seen em for 65 quid on e-bay, with all stretch bolts...

[GTI EDITION (aka LTD)]

PAYEN gaskets are OK but I prefer Victor Reinze sets and I personally wouldn't go anywhere near F@1 stuff    You get what you pay for 

[golf1.8t]

ye this is what i thought the gaket on ebay is made by FAI but they dont seem to have a good rep ive use a few payen in the pas a had no probs there nearly double the price but like you say you get what you pay for. also what sort of mpg you guys getting out of you vr6