Club 80-90 Forums

Morning,
yesterday i collected my very first T25. Its a 1.9 DG auto caravelle. I have purchased all the service parts ready for when it got home and ideally I would have liked to trailer it the 80 miles home but, the purchase and the parts had cleared me out! So 40 miles in, of what was a really enjoyable drive, the cab heater started to blow cold air, the temp gauge rose up, then went back down, I checked my rear view mirror and white smoke puffing occasionally out the back. I pulled off onto the hard shoulder, switched it off before it cut out, it was smoking so well by the time i ran to the back, I thought that was that. A nice man, a very nice man(AA) turned up.

A hose was split. The one that goes from the rhs cylinder head to what i believe is the pipes that run to the front? He replaced that, it started but water was now pouring out all around the cylinder head, and the water in the header had trace of oil.

Am I looking a cylinder head gasket or worse? What parts should be on my list etc etc. Any help/advice for a newbie (1st post, so Hi also!) would be very gratefully received. Phil

yep cylinder head seals at least both of them

not really a head gasket on these but a series of seals and you will need to have them all done.

all too common story engine blows up on the way home, perhaps the seller knew it was duff, perhaps it hasn't driven far in a while and you didn't check it over before you left.

fingers crossed no overheating damage.

would you tackle a job like this yourself?

Thanks for your reply.
yes I did have a good look around it, BUt i'm no mechanic, just a home grown. I did check the levels and signs of oil in the header> It drove so well until the event. I've had a Beetle for 30 years, and rebuilt two engines in that time that have lasted just by reading or luck! I would have a go once I have a better understanding of what I'm up against. Its a recon engine, a few years old, owned by a elderly lady who used it as her daily until about 2-3 years ago and then parked it. I had already agreed a price with her so no further bargaining to be done, I asked her if she knew anyone who might mot it and see what it failed on so at least i had an idea, and it passed! Couple of advisories. Recon engine, mot I thought I would chance it, plus she needed it moving. I had It booked in at a local garage this Thursday, 2 old boys that service all sorts of old cars etc.
I've just filled it up with water and moved it the 100 yards onto my drive and it was fine, so at least I know its not seized!
So to start, engine in/out? And then cylinder head off. Then….?
When I order the parts, every hose will be replaced also, maybe a recon but doesn't look like the pipes were!

https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.p ... 0#p8146661" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

check where water is coming from before you dive in just in case I'm wrong
oil in water could be old if it wasn't flushed

if you deduce it needs seals read the link re removing engine.

https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.p ... 0#p8156150" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
some info and pics on removing heads and pistons/barrels

Thanks for that.
Sadly on my way to work now so will have a look and read later.