Club 80-90 Forums

Hey, i have a 2.1 dj engine with 10k since rebuild 4 years ago and apparently one of the head gaskets is going/gone. coolant is leaking from the passenger side cylinder head unit which just got fitted 4 weeks ago.. No idea whats going on but wanted to get some opinions on wether i should replace the head gaskets or seek out a different engine?

Any advice apreciated.

Lewis

Get the head gaskets done, but I would think twice before taking it where they were done last time

No such thing as an upgrade from a 2.1DJ

LewisMac wrote:Hey, i have a 2.1 dj engine with 10k since rebuild 4 years ago and apparently one of the head gaskets is going/gone. coolant is leaking from the passenger side cylinder head unit which just got fitted 4 weeks ago.. No idea whats going on but wanted to get some opinions on wether i should replace the head gaskets or seek out a different engine?

Hi Lewis, there should be some warranty ... or was the engine sat 'in stock' for the past 4 years while the warranty ran down ? Either way I would be making enquiries as a first port of call.

A 2.1DJ is as good as you will get without a major outlay.

Ian

You had a new left hand head fitted 4 weeks ago, (why?) and it's leaking? Have you reported it to the mechanic? If so, what was the response?

If you've got a recon DJ with 10k on it, it's only just run in, and should do a six figure mileage before needing any major work. I suspect there must be a lot more to this story...

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itchyfeet wrote:No such thing as an upgrade from a 2.1DJ

Really? You can always use more torque from a wbx...

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Apparently VW only supplied the engine with a 3 year warranty.

I was getting a new exhaust fitted and one of the previous bolts was threaded onto the wrong threads, rusted and no sign of any lubricant to prevent this.
Had to remove the head to get the manifold off and couldn't drill the old bolt out.

Ran 300 miles after new head was fitted before it overheated and now as it sits in the drive, coolant just drips slowly from the new head.
Thanks for all the advice so far

did you refit the head with a used waterjacket seal?

Mocki wrote:did you refit the head with a used waterjacket seal?

if it overheated then probably the compression seals were not replaced or surfaced not cleaned properly.

Not that a WBX has a head gasket of the aluminium sheet and asbestos type material sandwich but:

As with aqua puncture or homeopathy I am more than a bit suspicious of the promulgation of snake oil type products. So when I spotted an advert for liquid head gasket seal on one of these whiney voiced American TV sales programs while surfing through Free View I goggled it and found a whole range if the stuff.

Although I have resorted to a whole raft of radiator sealing products over my many years of interfering with motors ranging from mosquito larvae ridden stagnant water, rad seal and Poo Stick and clever as I thought I was, it has never recurred to me to apply the same process to albeit temporary fix a blown head gasket.
Is anyone brave enough to admit being close to or even trying it?

Tighten up the head bolts to 50Nm, now the engine is run in. Might solve your problem.

DoubleOSeven wrote:Tighten up the head bolts to 50Nm, now the engine is run in. Might solve your problem.

Good call, I never thought to question whether the head had been correctly torqued!
I really should have, because I've had a couple of jobs in where a well known (big-bore) engine builder had apparently torqued wbx heads to air-cooled spec of 30Nm (I know because I rang them and asked, I was told "er, whatever VW say it should be...30 I think". He didn't say what it was 30 of, so I assumed Nm. Even if it were ft-lbs it's only about 40Nm so still well shy!).
On one the leak was really bad so I removed the heads (tutting at all the unnecessary gunky sealant on the compression seals) and resealed it.
The second time I just torqued the head down, removing one nut at a time and applying new sealant, then 30,40,50 Nm. It worked and has been fine for over two years.

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Thanks a lot guys.

Managed to find a T2/3 specialist near where i live so we'll just replace both cylinder head gaskets and see how we go.

LewisMac wrote:Thanks a lot guys.

Managed to find a T2/3 specialist near where i live so we'll just replace both cylinder head gaskets and see how we go.

There are no cylinder head gaskets, there are 14 separate seals 7 on each head.
All seals need replacing and the compression seal surfaces need to be clean and undamaged, no pits no scratches
Water jacket seal surfaces need to be clean but some pitting is OK because Dirko is applied which will fill the pits.
Dirko goes on both sides of the water jacket seal, special yellow sealant for the head nuts.
Get a kit
https://www.vwheritage.com/025198009b-g ... t-vw-spare" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

P1050953 by Paul_Barr, on Flickr

LewisMac wrote:Thanks a lot guys.

Managed to find a T2/3 specialist near where i live so we'll just replace both cylinder head gaskets and see how we go.

Why do you feel the need to do both sides - were both done 4 weeks ago ?