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head gasket issue after replacement? Moderators:
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Jin

Posted 2/6/2015 9:08 PM (#718413)
Subject: head gasket issue after replacement?

Regular

Posts: 159
100

. .Hi guys.
Long story short, I had my hg replaced last week because I started to notice small deposits of oil in the expansion bottle - only slight.
A new mls hg fitted by a reputable repairer and an oil change after the new hg was fitted,
Day one after replacement after 7 mile drive to work the underside of the oil cap was wet, dry off 7 mile journey home same again filler cap wet. Next day exactly the same both times, filler cap looks like its been used to scoop up water, last night I took the rocker cover off and cleaned it, it was only wet inside with droplets by the breather and just around it and the cap, the rest owas clean as a whistle as was the whole of the inside as far as I could see, dipstick clean on all occasions.
Rocker box refitted and breather pipes cleaned, fan heater left on all night under engine with filler cap off, 7 mile journey to work this morning filler cap wet again.
At no point before hg replacement did I notice a wet filler cap.

So before I call the repairers back out, is there anything obvious I should check? ,i

Edited by Jin 2/6/2015 9:09 PM

petrol_head

Posted 2/6/2015 9:27 PM (#718414 - in reply to #718413)
Subject: RE: head gasket issue after replacement?

drive it like its hired

5000

Are you experiencing a similar coolant loss in the header tank?

Jin

Posted 2/6/2015 9:40 PM (#718415 - in reply to #718413)
Subject: RE: head gasket issue after replacement?

Regular

Posts: 159
100

Hi cheers for the reply
I never noticed coolant loss before or now, everything seems normal except for the wet filler cap, the coolant looks clean though without any oil residue as before but it may be too early to tell.

Gandi69

Posted 3/6/2015 10:10 AM (#718420 - in reply to #718413)
Subject: RE: head gasket issue after replacement?

Expert

Posts: 11052
5000

Location: Wolverhampton

run some holts flush through the cooling system to get rid of any residual oil then refill with oat and bleed so its clean, then monitor it.
Water under the oil cap could be simply condensation - are the wire mesh breather filters fitted inside the cam cover?

petrol_head

Posted 3/6/2015 7:45 PM (#718424 - in reply to #718413)
Subject: RE: head gasket issue after replacement?

drive it like its hired

5000

Dont worry about it yet.
Sounds like condensation from short journeys etc.
You can either take it for a good hard slog and get the oil hot, or change the oil or monitor water use.
If you are not losing coolant out of the cooling system it cant be the head gasket

Jin

Posted 3/6/2015 7:51 PM (#718425 - in reply to #718413)
Subject: RE: head gasket issue after replacement?

Regular

Posts: 159
100

Thanks for your replies guys, much appreciated .
I phoned the fitter today stating that the coolant level (noticed this morning ) had dropped from Max to min in a week and he diss "that's normal after a hg change " I'm really not convinced but ill watch it for a while longer, ill let you know what happens

petrol_head

Posted 3/6/2015 8:00 PM (#718426 - in reply to #718413)
Subject: RE: head gasket issue after replacement?

drive it like its hired

5000

You can often see a small drop after its first run, which can sometimes extend a little longer.
But it should not be loosing water after that.

Edit: to be accurate best check it on the same level ground each time, when the engine is cold.

Edited by petrol_head 3/6/2015 8:07 PM

Jin

Posted 3/6/2015 9:44 PM (#718428 - in reply to #718413)
Subject: RE: head gasket issue after replacement?

Regular

Posts: 159
100

Cheers mate, ill top it up again and see what happens next week

Jin

Posted 11/6/2015 1:58 PM (#718590 - in reply to #718413)
Subject: RE: head gasket issue after replacement?

Regular

Posts: 159
100

further to this, it looks like i am going to have to get this changed

I’m no expert whatsoever but from what ive gathered is the MLS gasket is best for preventing future failure abut the worst to create an initial seal, if this is the case what is the best gasket to use? i assume its going to be an elastomer type of sorts, what do you guys recommend?

any help on this one much appreciated

DotMatrix

Posted 11/6/2015 10:24 PM (#718596 - in reply to #718413)
Subject: RE: head gasket issue after replacement?

Expert

Posts: 4458
2000

Location: Jelling, Denmark

did the engine with the new headgasket continue to use water? (you having to refill the expansion bottle)

Edited by DotMatrix 11/6/2015 10:25 PM

petrol_head

Posted 11/6/2015 10:33 PM (#718597 - in reply to #718413)
Subject: RE: head gasket issue after replacement?

drive it like its hired

5000

Personally would never entertain an mls on an 8v.
Use a payen bw750, you will also need a new exhaust manifold gasket.

Jin

Posted 12/6/2015 12:18 AM (#718600 - in reply to #718413)
Subject: RE: head gasket issue after replacement?

Regular

Posts: 159
100

Hi guys, its still loosing water, about max to min in a week and droplets still on the filler cap,

Its a 16v GTI , is the payen one still recommended?

Cheers

DotMatrix

Posted 12/6/2015 9:02 AM (#718603 - in reply to #718600)
Subject: RE: head gasket issue after replacement?

Expert

Posts: 4458
2000

Location: Jelling, Denmark

Jin - 12/6/2015 1:18 AM

Hi guys, its still loosing water, about max to min in a week and droplets still on the filler cap,

Its a 16v GTI , is the payen one still recommended?

Cheers

and you are sure the water isn't being lost somewhere else. my rover 400 loses water out the waterpump which can be seen on the onderside of the engine as pink residues.

Jin

Posted 12/6/2015 12:42 PM (#718606 - in reply to #718413)
Subject: RE: head gasket issue after replacement?

Regular

Posts: 159
100

hi, its never lost coolant at all until the HG was changed, also my oil cap was bone dry and now its wet from driving 2 miles down the road,

how does the blue elastomer payen fair? i was told at the time of fitting the MLS that the liners were spot on and slightly proud but no idea how much as I cant remember?

thanks

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