Club 80-90 Forums

Hi Chaps.

2.1 heads. Do I need new one or "she'll be right, mate"?

It's OK - its quite normal - only worry if the valve seats are cracked.
Someone explained them in a technical way somewhere, something to do with the thinness of the alu and the valve seats being dissimilar metal and the varied expansion/contraction of the metals. I'd only start worrying if they were getting big and burning through.
I'm no expert but have been stripping and rebuilding engines for 40+ years as an amateur!

No expert? Can you keep off this thread then.










Cheers mate! You've made me a happy chap!

I'd change the head..

VW didn't assemble your engine with a defect like that.

consider a second hand one but I would fit a new one if I could afford it (AMC rebuilt at around £250+, ECP at bit cheaper)

i believe that cracks like that are present after only a few thousand miles on most heads. tis nothing to worry about im my opinion

I worked as a mechanic for 13 years if i came across a cracked head during a rebuild i would change it .Cracks can open up when hot although i have removed a head from a Jx diesel whitch was running ok and it had several cracks i had only removed head to fix oil leak i did replace head though to save removing again .

It all depends upon the situation of the cracks - these do not encroach on oilways, waterways, valves etc. so are of no consequence.(As numerous people with these vw engines have noticed, virtually all have these cracks with absolutely no adverse effect upon the efficacy or longevity of their engine).
Even if they were to burn down to the valve seats they still would not affect the engine. 200k miles with these cracks on a cs engine no problem! That is good enough for me ( and a lot of others).

Oldiebut goodie wrote: 200k miles with these cracks on a cs engine no problem! That is good enough for me ( and a lot of others).

And me.

Engine was running fine with no oil use. Broke it down to fix leaking rubber head seal. Job is still on-going. Wish me luck,

its perfectly normal nothing to worry about

dsa wrote:I worked as a mechanic for 13 years if i came across a cracked head during a rebuild i would change it .Cracks can open up when hot although i have removed a head from a Jx diesel whitch was running ok and it had several cracks i had only removed head to fix oil leak i did replace head though to save removing again .

Just about every vw diesel head has cracks after a few thousand miles between valves, it is normal as stated in vw workshop manuals.

as mentioned by almost everyone else.. those cracks are fine