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Engine Specific Info and Questions => TDI Engine -General Info => Topic started by: the caveman on June 29, 2011, 09:15:01 pm

Title: Headgasket failures
Post by: the caveman on June 29, 2011, 09:15:01 pm

Has anybody ever have to change a headgasket on a stock TDI? I don't think i've ever seen or changed one just for that

Title: Re: Headgasket failures
Post by: vanagonturbo on June 29, 2011, 10:38:01 pm

Nope. Why do you ask? FWIW, I havent had to change a head gasket on an OBD2 ABA either.

Title: Re: Headgasket failures
Post by: the caveman on June 30, 2011, 09:34:12 am

Just asking.  i know that some engines go through headgaskets more than others-like the 1.6 ACC gasser, plus the odd 1.6 IDI's. It came to mind because I'm about to convert a GLX to TDI and the engine i'm using has over 430,000 kms, and compression is well above what you would except from 90 % of engines out there. Thought that I would change the HG while replacing all the other seals, but realized why change it for no reason.

Title: Re: Headgasket failures
Post by: R.O.R-2.0 on June 30, 2011, 01:33:06 pm

shouldnt fix something that aint broke..

that could be asking for problems..

Title: Re: Headgasket failures
Post by: BigVWman on July 06, 2011, 08:20:33 am

I have changed three but for other reasons(one preventive when doing swap 2&3 were for broken tb's). No big deal, nearly same process as na except timing.I certainly wouldn't change it just because of mileage in a running car. Heck some of the big diesels go a million without ever having heads off! It will tell you when its time to change!

Title: Re: Headgasket failures
Post by: the caveman on July 06, 2011, 09:06:57 am

My reason for asking was just to prove to myself how much better and reliable these engines are. I was kinda thinking out loud because I don't know of one ever failing

Title: Re: Headgasket failures
Post by: Quantum TD on July 09, 2011, 08:34:01 pm

I did one on a 1998 TDI. It was definitely bad.

Title: Re: Headgasket failures
Post by: RadoTD on July 10, 2011, 02:40:24 am

Quote from: R.O.R-2.0 on June 30, 2011, 01:33:06 pm

shouldnt fix something that aint broke..

that could be asking for problems..

Doesn't that simply defy half of everything this forum is about? haha

Title: Re: Headgasket failures
Post by: R.O.R-2.0 on July 10, 2011, 01:54:32 pm

Quote from: RadoTD on July 10, 2011, 02:40:24 am

Quote from: R.O.R-2.0 on June 30, 2011, 01:33:06 pm

shouldnt fix something that aint broke..

that could be asking for problems..

Doesn't that simply defy half of everything this forum is about? haha

i think its basically agreed upon that replacing a good head gasket is bad practice, unless the turbo thats about to go on your engine is a big scary bully, and wont play nice with that new head gasket..

Title: Re: Headgasket failures
Post by: 745 turbogreasel on July 10, 2011, 03:33:00 pm

I thought that and the timing belt were annual maintenance....