oh dear, water leak out of the head gasket!!!

Post by **booster24** » 23 Nov 2006, 14:55

Been away for a while, nice to see the 89-90 club at the Brighton Breeze. Anyway my head gasket is leaking water onto the drive and the light comes on on the dash saying no coolent!! Been topping it up for a while but was wondering if anyone could give me a price you would pay for having the head gasket done, there's no white smoke. Or is it a nightmare to remove the engine 1.9 DG.

Cheers

Post by **toomanytoys** » 23 Nov 2006, 15:15

loosing coolant anf the light comes on??
Have you bled the system lately?

What year is it? and is the engine the original..
Just a head job is possible, but usually only if the engine is in real good nick and was apart less than a few years ago.. there are many problems with attempting to do it on an "old" engine

Should be a load of info in "wiki", if not we should add it..
or do a quick search..
bare in mind a gen VW refurb engine is about £1200... exchange.. before asking a local garage to do "a quick job" (that could turn into a long job and several hundred pounds..)

Post by **Dan Wood** » 23 Nov 2006, 17:55

From memory, I think I paid about 60 quid for the gasket.

The main problem with the 1.9 DG is that the studs corrode, and when you try to undo them they break. That almost always mean you need a new engine.

I took mine to Si Baxter and he managed to sort it out. He did warn me that it might break though - he's a decent and upfront sort of chap. He managed to do it in situ, but did end up with a few headaches (stuck piston, broken ring, IIRC) that way.

The way to think about it it, ask yourself what use an engine that won't hold water is. Then have a go. You'll either end up happy, or needing a new engine - but you needed a new engine anyway if the original doesn't hold water!

Oh, and avoid the temptation to bung the cooling system up with radweld and the like.

Good luck.

Post by **Dan Wood** » 23 Nov 2006, 20:28

I'm assuming he meant water jacket gasket, as he mentioned water on the drive and no white smoke. If not, then ignore what I said above

Post by **"WEAZLECHIN"** » 23 Nov 2006, 20:45

you could try some K SEAL first. it wouldnt hurt £9

Post by **"WEAZLECHIN"** » 24 Nov 2006, 07:34

correct. i dont know about the one you mention teedubya, but k seal reacts to the air leakage, blocking it, and it turns "steel" hard.

Post by **booster24** » 24 Nov 2006, 08:55

Cheers guys, I think I will drain all the coolant and refill using the sealant , if that works then grand if not back to the drawing board. Its the rubber seal thats dripping water, its not running out just a drip every few secounds. Also when I turn the key to start there's a delay of a secound before anything happens then she turns and starts, whats that all about?
This engine is a replacement Vege engine which was in when I bought it and has done around 10k but been in for about 6 years.

Post by **booster24** » 24 Nov 2006, 09:52

Cheers due.

Post by **MurphyX** » 24 Nov 2006, 15:52

T3teedubya wrote:The delayed action when starting could simply be corroded connections on the starter, especially if they are not tight. Undo the terminals/conectors and clean them.

ps; The Wynnes sealant works the same way as the K Seal. I also know of three other T3 owners who used it without any problems.
Follow the instructions carefully, don't just pour it into the tank.

Make that 4. I used K seal as well. Works wonders.