possible Head Gasket Issue?

[monst]

So
   I noticed that the heat was not really what it used to be...
about a month ago......   at idle heat stunk..... and
a new heater core was put in several years ago.....
So anyway, an issue occurred recently... car was over heating...
and needed coolant.... I wasn't driving so I don't know
the real deal....
   The car got home... and I put a new thermostat in
and noticed the housing flange seemed to be leaking  also...
like it was cracked.... I replaced that.... then
I noticed when vehicle was turned off... the
reservoir cap leaked...gushed out... and it looks like the o-ring
was popped upward..intot the cap out of its ridge.... I
got a new cap  as well
   So now.... I run the car.... and the heat stinks
most of the time...... and is seems to me like
there is excessive pressure in the cooling system...
I pulled the upper hose off because the coolant was not
circulating... made a very explosive sound........
I ran the car after that... had a little heat....
came back..... and car was at operating temps...
seems like too much pressure in the cooling system...
the car is cooling off... now... I figure I am going
to give it long time... and see if there is pressure
after it cools off completely
   What do you think?

[8v-of-fury]

Relieve the pressure slowly by SLOWLY turning the cap off. Be careful, as it is hot lol.

Once the pressure is relieved, remove the cap completely. Start the car, if there is something causing excessive pressure it will puke out again..

In fact if there was excessive pressure it should have spewed out before the car hit operating temps.

Unfortunately, it may just be that these old diesels don't waste their combustion heat.. and do not make much heat at all. Is the car new to you?

[monst]

I have had the car for about 5 or 6 years


Yeah, with the cap off... I noticed the other day it
wanted to puke when I started it up...... out the reservior

[8v-of-fury]

From a cold start?? (not at operating temps)

[monst]

Yeah,correct.
I just went down there...
not a pretty sight...
car is cold... and I opened
the reservoir cap....
the freakin antifreeze...
is not green  looks contaminated...

[8v-of-fury]

Most common is a head gasket failure. It could be many other things.. but that is most common.

If it were me (shady tree mechanic) I'd lift the head enough to swap the gasket out and then put new head bolts in it at the same time as they are one time use.

Benefit to this, you don't have to remove more than the valve cover gasket and the metal fuel injection lines.. Its leaking anyway and the head has to come off is the way I'd look at it.

This could be a ~$60 fix easy-peasy too..

[monst]

Easy peezy?
I like easy Peezy...
the car has 262k on it...

Tell about R&R head Gasket..
Soup to nuts... without gory details..
but clear enough.. 
  Sad thing is I haven't recoverved
from  clutch and motor regasket job
I just did on my Subie Loyale....
and did a windshield... it was about
4our weeks of hlle..... but car is nice...
  So Just want to know..... what I am
getting into..... schizo....

[8v-of-fury]

Oh boy lmao. I did a clutch and head gasket on a 91 NA engine in my 84 in one after noon last summer..

I did just like I said, left everything connected to the head and lifted it about 2.5-3" so I could slide the old gasket out, fit my hand in there with some sand paper and scuff up the deck and head surface a touch. Blow it all out good with compressed air, set it back down and put new bolts in.

You will have to remove the timing belt... do you have the means to reset the timing after words??

[745 turbogreasel]

I once bought a $40 dealer thermostat that didn't open at all ever under any circumstance...Just because it is new doesn't mean it's good, though your heat shold blast if it's stuck.
Unless your heat control is restricted.

[8v-of-fury]

Did you test the thermostat before you installed it?

[monst]

Oh boy lmao. I did a clutch and head gasket on a 91 NA engine in my 84 in one after noon last summer..
Sounds fun.................

I did just like I said, left everything connected to the head and lifted it about 2.5-3" so I could slide the old gasket out, fit my hand in there with some sand paper and

**    So you left the intake and the exhaust connected.............
Yeah, this Jetta has a Header on it.... (wonder how much of a damper it might put on your approach)


scuff up the deck and head surface a touch.


**I guess here (scuff up ) one must use the Braille method


Blow it all out good with compressed air, set it back down and put new bolts in.

You will have to remove the timing belt... do you have the means to reset the timing after words??

**Yeah, good on this...... timing schtuff.....  just put my third belt on this pup......

**  How many miles have you put on your jetta since you did the head?



**AS for the Thermostat... No didn't run it under hot water

The antifreeze was brand new... now it is not green anymore...
yukie grey iish
so I don't think it is a stubborn Stat..... 

 Pretty sold on that it is a head gasket.....
Makes sense that it is.....

[8v-of-fury]

Yes the braille method. I mean you can remove the head if you REALLY want to.. also know that doing it this way you risk the chance of something possibly in another universe going wrong and you may have to remove the head anyway.. so its your discretion. I have done it with success twice is all.

Like I said shade tree mechanic

I ran the Jetta for another.. 6 months and the nI removed the engine to make way for a 1.9L M-TDI AHU. lol. Had no issue with the HG afterwards though.

Used that same method to do an emergency side of the road HG change on a 90 1.8 digi gas engine too! HAHA. Didn't have tools on me, so I had to go back ot the car.. but I didn't have cash for a two either. That was in 2010, this car also still runs fine with no issue on the cooling system.

[monst]

Yeah, dig it.....
I am just thinking... maybe
something above....
lifting the head off... holding up
at like 3" nchez.
I got a rigged hoist still hanging above
where I did the clutch/motor regasket job...

  on the gasket... do all 1.6l get the same gasket...
I remember hearing something about notches..?in th gasket...

[8v-of-fury]

On the front of the engine there is a piece of the gasket sticking out. You will be able to see the gasket there, and what is currently installed.

If it starts and runs good, then you are safe to say it is the correct one.

[monst]

gotcha on the gasket...
 The injection pump started dripping a ways back....
hard to see were is drips from... wish I could
fix that leak too when I do the head gasket.
  Any tips on determining leak locations....
What is the name of the part of the pump
where the lines to the injectors branch out from...
I was thinking maybe there is an o-ring there....

AND when you disconnect the lines are you
disconnecting them from the pump when you lift
the head? seems to me that is the case...

thanks!