Help! Bad car = :( wife.....

[teeb]

 

I have unhappy 16v 1991,

+ small yappy dog wifey, v. upset, lol.

It is in a garage in wilts, has recently had new head put on, was skimmed etc. The mechanic had trouble settling the water down in exp tank, he put a new thermostat on, which he said helped.
It is back in as it is using a lot of water, no obvious leaks, he says compression is fine on all, he thinks water pump is stuffed, but doesnt explain where water is going?? Top rad hose is at 88 deg lower stays at 40 always, he has tested rad with hose and water passes through, any ideas? I dont think he used new head bolts, he said his book said they werent required.. but if compression is okay then oh i dont know.

Muchos help required, thanks in advance.

teeb, stuck in london.....

[ashmk1]

Should have had NEW GASKET NEW HEAD BOLTS.
HEAD STILL WARPED/CRACKED
BLOCK COULD BE CRACKED,
WATER PUMP COULD BE SH***D,
RAD COULD BE SHA**D,
HOSE/WATER PIPES COULD BE SHAG*D,
HEATER MATRIX COULD BE SHAGE*
CORE PLUGS COULD BE *HAGED
IF YOUR NOT SEEING SIGNS THEN YOU MAY HAVE HAD A MASSIVE AIR BLOCKAGE

[golfvr6]

Sounds like the chaps that put the head on have bodged it, head bolts should always be changed as they are stretch bolts.
Get someone else to do the job.

[teeb]

ta for replies, me thinks head bolts (lack of new ones could be a big problem, as for getting someone else to do it, well it is in their garage with various bits off, which is nice.

will know more from tuesday as that is when they can work on it again..

surely though compression would be down if the gasket was f..ked? He better not be lying as he is smaller than me. lol.

[Veedubgt18v]

could just be lying about the compressions test, ask to see the graph!

[vaughn]

you should also use a bigger head gasket after you skim the head as they seem to run really hot if you dont

[golfvr6]

Why?  

[modulater]

captain bodge strikes again

[vaughn]

a few years back i had a head gasket go on a 1986 mk2 8 valve, my mate took the head off and said it needed skimming so he took it to his mate who works for brmotorsport he skimmed the head and sent it back. it got put back together and ran fine. didnt lose water or oil, but ran really hot. my mate phoned his mate at brmotorsport who said they had come across this problem a few times and it was something to do with the standard head gasket after the heads had been skimmed. i didnt ask any more questions as was selling the car anyway

[VeeDubGTI16v]

obviously when you machine the head you lose material, so i suppose you compensate by putting a thicker gasket on?