Head gasket leaking coolant

[Mr P]

Hi guys,

need some help here, crawled under the Mk5, 2005, 2.0 FSI petrol, BLX motor, and found coolant at base on the engine, and looking up at the back of the block, I can see coolant weeping out between head and block near cyl 4!! I was about to start replacing the timing belt, but it looks like the project has got a lot bigger. The previous owner had used green coolant which may have contributed to the gasket leak?

anyway which gasket sets would you recommend and ones I should avoid? Any online or local Sydney stores you'd recommend?

Thanks in advance
Andrew

[Bug_racer]

Get another engine . The coolant attacks the aluminium and causes the leaks .

[stefcio007]

Green coolant instructions for VW engines reads "flush your cooling system immediately!"

also, why does this sound like this car? http://www.vwwatercooled.com/forums/...why-28290.html

[buzuki]

id be confirming its not the coolant flange on the end of the head. Ive seen this wrongly diagnosed as a head gasket before

[Umai Naa!!]

As above.

Pressure test over a decent length of time. You'll soon find the leak.

Head gasket failure on this engine is very uncommon.

[Mr P]

Hi guys,
well I've taken the head off, and was amazed at some great things about this engine, and some disturbing ones. 1. The amount of carbon on the valves and induction tubes. A lot of decarbonising required here.
2. The over use of plastic bits, such as plastic dipstick tube, that had perished at the base. The plastic breather tube that had broken at the base, (cost$73 at VW, ouch!). The head no cracks, and is getting shaved and the valves re ground with a 3 angle cut.
Whilst I ve got it apart, is there anything I should look at or replace?

[jets]

Thanks for reposting what you have found. Some of the plastic is OK unless you push or lean on it. I wish VW would specify a better grade of plastic if they want to use it. Since reading what some on this forum do, I lift the bonnet when I arrive home, mainly in the summer months. I have a steep hill on our property for approx. 100m. & it's very hot when I lift the bonnet. I am hoping to prolong the life of all the plastic bits.

[Mr P]

Hi folks,
got the injectors tested and cleaned, but they had issues with leak down, and one of the solinoids was on the way out. So given the amount of effort required to get to them, decided to replace them at $186ea bosch. Plus your'll need the service kit to get the metal ring clips that replace the plastic rings from the originals from VW.The head is back from engineering shop, after shave, 3 angle valve cut, pressure test and clean. Spent most of the day cleaning bits and carbon off intakes, etc. replaced the broken plastic Y water connector with a bass fitting, much better. Hopefully then head is back on tomorrow!

[Mr P]

Got the head back on and it flys!!