Oil and coolant consumption, pressurized exp.tank

[jbturgeon]

Hi, i would like to have some advice on a problem with my golf 1995 1.9td w a/c, 366 000km. I just drove about 500 km and i had to ad 2 litres of oil and about 1 litre of coolant.

I think there is a problem because i am used to drive (with my previous 1.9td) 5000 km before i had to ad 500 ml of oil and no coolant. Works done on this car: I recently change the oil from what looked to be industrial black 15w40 to synthetic 5w50. I also had to change an injector because there was a single spring injector. I had to work on the turbo as the vaccum activated recirculation gate was stuck and wasn't opening with the vaccuum pressure over 2500rpm. The T-belt looks ok but there's a cliking sound when i start the car and for the first 10 mins. There is white smoke on startup and when i put some load on the engine. Idle is ok. Finally, there's a lot of pressure in the coolant expansion tank when i shut the engine off. There is no apparent leak of coolant or oil around the engine except some black deposits near the turbo. 

I bought this car from a guy that didn't know anything about the timing belt or the head gasket and i think he have been doing some mechanic and didn't know what he was doing..

What should i diagnose first: t-stat, oil cooler gauge, headgasket, changing my car...

Thx very much 

[jbturgeon]

I forgot to mention 1 detail: the temp goes back to 90C when i turn the heater on, on the warm side. Cold side does not help. Sound's like an electronic problem... maybe

[Doug]

There may be more than one thing amiss here. The pressurisation of the coolant system as well as consumption of coolant indicate a failed head gasket. Changing out oil from industrial black at 366K using 2 litres in 500 km may be an engine with worn rings and valve guides. You won't know until you pull that head to change the gasket but when you do, why not do it all?

[jbturgeon]

Thx Doug. I will take the whole thing off and do the whole job. Before that, should i try retorquing the head bolts (i know VW never suggest to do it but...)?

Is dieselvw.com a good site to order the 2 notch gasket and head bolts or should i absolutely order some Reinz gasket?

Thx again

If you have any other idea, let me know

[Doug]

I think that torquing the bolts is a waste of time. Most head gaskets have a sealing plastic that helps to seal the gasket to itself (multi layer style) and to the head and block. Once it is unsealed as in leaking, it won't stop leaking by crushing it down more. There are some proprietary compounds like Steel Seal that make some impressive claims but they cost more that a new gasket. 

My local European car fixit place in Belleville has a line on parts out of Montreal. The prices were always good and the parts are not knock off Chinese crap but name brand parts suppliers to the auto industry. It seems to me that a head gasket was just under $40 the last time. You can find them if you ask around. Why waste time with web based question mark components that you think you are saving money on? Alternatively you could try Carquest asking for Worldpac components. Some of them are good quality at reasonable price.

[Vincent Waldon]

Is dieselvw.com a good site

Search here for "Prothe" for some different perspectives on this.

[jbturgeon]

Ok. Very good advive here! Thx Vincent, i already order everything from Prothe. He is selling Reinz head gasket and the rest looks ok. Anyway, on a 366000 km engine that will go to about 600000km, i think i would have bought myself a tdi before i have to change it again.

I will try doing it before winter.. Wich is in 2 weeks here in quebec...

Thx