Well, at least I got to drive it....

[88jetta350]

I don't know how many of you have been following my build, but I finally got a chance to drive the Golf MKI that I've been working on since January. It was great. The 1st project I've ever finished in my life, also my 1st Golf MKI, and it was such a blast to drive.

Then, as I was driving home last night, something terrible happened... The head gasket blew.... I think. Not sure yet, I'm afraid to look.

It was running fine one minute, and then all of the sudden, 1 or more cylinders stopped firing, and I got a HUUUUGE black cloud behind the car...unburned fuel. No loud noises, no real jerking from the engine, just unburned fuel... Limped it home to survey the damage, doesn't seem to be water in the oil or the other way around, so it must have blown between 2 cylinders, if it's even the head gasket. How often do stock IDI's blow head gaskets?

Dammit.  

Before I go out and start taking things apart, anyone wanna guess if it's something besides the head gasket?

[arb]

What happened when you tried to restart it? Will it start? Will it idle ?

[88jetta350]

It never actually stopped running. It starts, it runs, just not on all four cylinders, and it blows unburned fuel contantly (diesely, stinky smoke)

[arb]

It never actually stopped running. It starts, it runs, just not on all four cylinders, and it blows unburned fuel contantly (diesely, stinky smoke)

Does not sound like a blown HG to me. Might be wrong, but it likely would not idle with a blown HG that prevents it from firing on all 4. Sounds like an injector or 2 could fouled. Is your fuel filter new ? Do you have air bubbles in the fuel lines ? When I replaced my IP, I had the timing off (0.020" rather than 0.040" as it should have been.) It ran similar to what you describe.

[88jetta350]

Come to think of it, I haven't replaced the filter since I got it running. :embarrased:

I also would suspect the injection timing as well, it's quite possible, since I set the timing by ear, just until I can get it to bosch to get it done professionally.

And yes, it idles fine, at the right speed and everything, except for the dead cylinder(s)

I will re-adjust the timing tomorrow when it's light, see if that helps, and will replace the filter some time this week. (gotta order one)

And no, no bubbles in the fuel lines.

Anyone have any more ideas? I'm open to suggestions.

[Rabbit TD]

From what you are describing it sure sounds like contaminated fuel and a clogged filter.  I wouldn't try to run it till you get the filter changed, it could make matters worse.  Set your timing and then fill the pump with ATF, get a new filter, fill it with ATF, bleed the injectors at the unions till you get red fluid coming out and see how things are from there.  Check your oil too, it could be 50% diesel fuel if an injector or 2 stuck open.

[Rabbit on Roids]

fuel filters are a major culprit on these engines. they are picky about them, and if they aint clean, you aint gettin no power... hell, sometimes my filters clog so bad that it will quit running. thats one thing i always carry with me tho if im going on a road trip a ways from home, a spare fuel filter and a quart of transmission fluid. cause the trans fluid you can use for fuel to fill the filter or engine oil in a pinch.

[88jetta350]

I took a short video of it running today. Maybe this will help give someone an idea of what the problem is.

[boomenstein]

Not to sure about the head gasket, but it looks like you have no air filter on that intake, I would definitely get a come filter on there before you suck some crud up in there!

[88jetta350]

I have an OEM filter box for it, I just took it off, because I'm having to fab up tabs to mount it to. I've considered a cone filter as well, but that will come in due time.