Club 80-90 Forums

ajsimmo wrote: ↑28 Sep 2020, 16:32 Don't let them skim the head. It won't need it, and may render it scrap. VW say don't do it, but some mechanics know better

I would tend to agree, except......

I had a real problem with a head on an AVY engine recently (Polo Gti). It had overheated due to thermostat housing failure.

Couldn't get it to seal, 0.05mm out of true, which was bang on the spec limit, so should have been OK, one aftermarket specialist told me it would be fine, another who has known me for many years told me he was sure I would have done the job right, just take it out for a test drive.

It was only after the very light skim that it would seal again. I'm too embarrassed to say how many times I did the job, using another head as a test too.

This was petrol not diesel so less impact on the compression ratio though.

But in the end we agree, don't let them skim the head, then chances of too much metal removal are too high

Yes, petrol is different and skimming is acceptable with most.
Just the diesels - take any more than a smidgeon off and the valves will cause splash craters in the piston tops! VW know best

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Yup, it’s not meant to be skimmed, also it’s not that hard to do. If your garage is good then talk them through the guide, tell them there’s no rush but they might have a van sitting around doing nothing whilst you look for a ‘new’ head.


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Does anyone know anyone around Somerset who knows their stuff?

I'm suddenly feeling nervous about taking the van to my usual garage.

And no mechanic is going to like to be told how to suck eggs by some guy who's found some information out online.

I would post a new thread, more chance of reading it with a different title

Latest update:

Yesterday, I replaced the dalec cap with the new one.
As I took the old cap off, there was no air release sound this time.
Both tanks had gone down an inch or so.

I bled the system, out of the radiator, using the method with a one way pump valve (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eug3jfkobPo).




There was a lot of air in there!

One possible explanation for this could (hopefully?) be that back when we first had the van, we noticed, after one journey, that 'this pipe' (see pic below) was not attached to the dalek cap at all.



After that journey, a couple of months ago, I mentioned it to the local garage, and they put the metal clip on it.
Could that explain the amount of air in the system, or am I just trying to find alternative reasons when the head gasket is staring me in the face?

Anyway, back to yesterday.
After I'd bled the radiator and refilled the water tanks, I drove for 30 minutes, with the heating on.
All seemed fine.
Heat went up to about half way, but no further, and no light.

This morning, I took another look.
The tank behind the licence plate still seemed nice and high.
The engine bay tank was pretty high, but had definitely gone down a bit (see pic below)



Unfortunately, it was raining while I was doing all of this yesterday, and I forgot to properly check for a leak.

There definitely has been a leak under the van. The landowner on the last site we stayed at saw it dripping, and I've seen some residue on our drive. I haven't got to the bottom of this yet though (not quite sure how to go about it!)

Other information ...

TONYT25T25 wrote: ↑28 Sep 2020, 08:16 I thought I would add, check the oil filler cap for white/milky substances if so this could be another indication of head gasket failure.

Here's a pic Tony ...

It seems fine.
Is that a good sign?
 

937carrera wrote: ↑28 Sep 2020, 10:20 It's a diesel isn't it, can you post exactly what engine it is, even better put it in your signature and update your profile with rough location.

As I'm pretty clueless regarding what the last engine was replaced with, here are some photographs ...








Do they help to identify the engine?
Apparently it (or 'half of it'?) has been replaced. I don't really remember what the guy who sold it to us said about that.


OK, that's the update.

Are you all still convinced that it's the head gasket? Is there anything else I should do/check?

The van is going into the garage tomorrow, because of this coolant issue and the amount of black smoke that it's pumping out of the exhaust.

Is there anything that tell them other than, "Don't skim the head gasket"?

Thanks again everyone!
Damian

Oil cap looks fine, I would imagine that if oil and coolant were mixing due to a head gasket problem there would be a milky substance in the cap, I have seen this on other vehicles and can only guess that the same symptom applies to T25s.

TONYT25T25 wrote: ↑01 Oct 2020, 09:22 Oil cap looks fine, I would imagine that if oil and coolant were mixing due to a head gasket problem there would be a milky substance in the cap, I have seen this on other vehicles and can only guess that the same symptom applies to T25s.

Thanks for the positive sign Tony.

What are other peoples thoughts?
Does this still look like head gasket?
Or maybe a simple(?) leak?

Looks like a 1.7 turbodiesel to me, KY engine code.

The 1.8 litre coolant loss was a big leak, now explained by the absence of the pipe from the dalek cap. Good

So, you have a small leak.

Get that fixed first, coolant leaks when cold will simply allow air into the header tank.

As above, i would first find and repair the leak. Get the van running, bright head torch on and get underneath. Radiator, front to rear coolant pipes, heater pipes etc It took me a few minutes to find holed front/rear coolant pipe as it was up on the bend going into the engine bay and running down to the middle underneath.
David.

How did things go with the garage ?

937carrera wrote: ↑05 Oct 2020, 06:53 How did things go with the garage ?

I've not got the van back yet, but they found a leak in the Injector Pipe.

I have no idea what the injector pipe is. Will that be responsible for the coolant level going down, or is it a completely different system?

Thanks,
Damian

The injector pipe puts fuel into your engine nothing to do with the water side of your engine. And that jubilee clip does not need to be on the Dalek cap. These are your injector pipes.

Cutting in again, Rob I also have a jubilee clip on my Dalek cap, bit of a pain I have noticed that you have to undo it to remove the cap when checking fluid level, is it ok to leave it off as I suspect there is little pressure involved in it popping off??

Its not needed fella. Just leave it off.