Head Gasket Blown

[Mave]

Hi There

I set out in my van last Friday and a mile from home loads and loads of white smoke started coming out of the exhaust and the oil light came on.

I stopped the van immediately, the oil dipstick was covered in a milky looking oil and was all up over the dipstick.

RAC came to the rescue, they said i looks like the head gasket has blown.

I have a 1990 T25, watercooled 1.9 lt, does anyone know much about these engines and how easy it is to get the gasket replaced.

Is there anything particular i should let my mechanic know about the engine on these vans, he has asked me to find out as much info as i can.

Thanks everyone

[docklad]

you'll have to replace the HG with a thicker one. The thicker ones have two holes rather than the one in the normal HG. The supplier should know if you ask him

[Ian Hulley]

you'll have to replace the HG with a thicker one. The thicker ones have two holes rather than the one in the normal HG. The supplier should know if you ask him

IF it's a petrol (and you don't specify) then that is bollcocks.

The 1.9/2.1 petrol waterboxer doesn't have A head gasket, it has an annealed ring on the top of each individual barrel.

Ian.

[docklad]

you'll have to replace the HG with a thicker one. The thicker ones have two holes rather than the one in the normal HG. The supplier should know if you ask him

IF it's a petrol (and you don't specify) then that is bollcocks.

The 1.9/2.1 petrol waterboxer doesn't have A head gasket, it has an annealed ring on the top of each individual barrel.

Ian.

"Bollcocks"???????? I would have thought incorrect was a more plausible description. I'm slighty shocked. If it is a diesel then my comments hold weight and you can add your description to your comment.

[Ian Hulley]

I would assume that if it was a 1.9 Diesel then the post would say so, with it being a non-standard engine.

[Mave]

Hello Folks

It is a petrol watercooled 1.9 (1990).

Does this mean it has rings for each head?

Thanks again for your help

Mave

[Ian Hulley]

Hello Folks

It is a petrol watercooled 1.9 (1990).

Does this mean it has rings for each head?

No it has 2 rings per head ... 1 per cylinder.

http://www.brickwerks.co.uk/shop?page=s ... ory_id=123

That's the gasket set for just one side OR ..

http://www.brickwerks.co.uk/shop?page=s ... ory_id=123

For future reference it may help if you add your van and engine details to your profile or signature, it may help prevent wrong answers.

Ian

[Mave]

Hello Folks

Hi Ian

Thanks for all your help, very much appreciated.

Mave

It is a petrol watercooled 1.9 (1990).

Does this mean it has rings for each head?

No it has 2 rings per head ... 1 per cylinder.

http://www.brickwerks.co.uk/shop?page=s ... ory_id=123

That's the gasket set for just one side OR ..

http://www.brickwerks.co.uk/shop?page=s ... ory_id=123

For future reference it may help if you add your van and engine details to your profile or signature, it may help prevent wrong answers.

Ian

[Ian Hulley]

VW T25 (White) Petrol, 1.9 watercooled, Year-1990

[Ian Hulley]

Right, now we know what engine we have ....

The head has to come off (risk of head bolt snappage ), to do this the cooling system must be drained (and then of course rebleed), the exhaust has to come off (BIG risk of stud unpleasantness). The engine coming out makes it more accessible so of course you'd replace the clutch and spigot bearing. Replacing the gaskets and all the seals that go with it is the easy bit. You would be daft not to totally renew the anti-freeze coolant and make good any number of other issues (e.g. engine mounts) that will no-doubt surface. It is the proverbial Can Of Worms.

Expect major garage bills if this is to be done by a professional garage, many people fit a budget 'reconditioned' engine as a cheaper alternative.

Ian

[kevtherev]

you can weigh your garage bill against against a warrantied VW Elite replacement engine..

[Mave]

Hi Folks

Just had my mechanic round looking at the engine, he said does anyone know the questions below:

Why would the oil get into the water or vice versa?

Have any of you had this happen to you, ie; white smoke and milky oil and was it your gasket or rings?

Could it be the waterpump that has blown or leaked etc.

He is trying to eliminate certain things....

Thanks again for your help

[Oldiebut goodie]

Do those engines have an oil cooler? (I don't know petrol injuns so am stabbing in the dark here) If so it may have gone.

[kevtherev]

Hi Folks


Why would the oil get into the water or vice versa?

because water is under pressure as is oil, so if you have oil in the water then the transfer must take place where oil pressure is higher than the coolant pressure...or vise versa.

for instance, the bottom O ring on the cylinder liner separates coolant at about 18 psi and oil at around zero psi in the sump cavity

Could it be the waterpump that has blown or leaked etc.

no

[Ian Hulley]

Do those engines have an oil cooler? (I don't know petrol injuns so am stabbing in the dark here) If so it may have gone.

2.1's do and so do 1.9 injections ... exactly the same oil cooler as the Golf/Jetta/Scirocco injection models of the same vintage.

Ian