VWDiesel.net The IDI, TDI, and mTDI source.

General Information => Troubleshooting => Topic started by: haybayian on July 14, 2010, 05:30:38 am

Title: head gasket level oil leak
Post by: haybayian on July 14, 2010, 05:30:38 am
Hello vw friends,
I have a VW AAZ recently remaned which works well except for a small but annoying oil leak at the interface between the block and the head. I have retorqued the thing twice and it does not seem to make a difference. Would a different type of gasket potentially be the answer? If not what else do I need to do?

Thanks.

Haybayian
Title: Re: head gasket level oil leak
Post by: Luckypabst on July 14, 2010, 08:35:41 am
Where is it leaking? Between cyl. 3 and 4 on the front?
Title: Re: head gasket level oil leak
Post by: haybayian on July 16, 2010, 06:39:59 am
Where is it leaking? Between cyl. 3 and 4 on the front?

Thanks for your attention. The leak seems to be at the gasket between cyl 3 and 4 indeed. I believe that my current gasket is metal (FE) and I can see three small holes on the front side of it.
Title: Re: head gasket level oil leak
Post by: Vincent Waldon on July 16, 2010, 08:03:59 am
When the engine was remanufactured do you know if the head and deck surfaces were re-faced?

Small warpages in these two surfaces often lead to localized leaks, particularly with the metal head gasket used on AAZs. If this is the case there's no real cure except to have the surfaces re-worked. 

Title: Re: head gasket level oil leak
Post by: haybayian on July 17, 2010, 10:22:17 am
When the engine was remanufactured do you know if the head and deck surfaces were re-faced?

Small warpages in these two surfaces often lead to localized leaks, particularly with the metal head gasket used on AAZs. If this is the case there's no real cure except to have the surfaces re-worked. 



Hi Vince,
No I don't know that they have done that. Would a thick fiber gasket potentially help?
Thanks,
Haybayian
Title: Re: head gasket level oil leak
Post by: Rabbit on Roids on July 17, 2010, 10:27:15 am
fiber gaskets almost always seal better, because they can conform and squish quite a bit better.
Title: Re: head gasket level oil leak
Post by: burn_your_money on July 17, 2010, 11:08:35 am
I don't know of a fiber gasket for the AAZ. I wanted to use one when I did my headgasket since my head was slightly warped. I decided to just get the head machined.
Title: Re: head gasket level oil leak
Post by: Rabbit on Roids on July 17, 2010, 11:39:11 am
even the super early AAZ's had metal gaskets? cause i know an aaz is just a diesel ABA, and the very first ABAs were equipped with a fiber gasket.
Title: Re: head gasket level oil leak
Post by: Vincent Waldon on July 17, 2010, 02:48:31 pm
I don't know of a fiber gasket for the AAZ.

Me neither... pretty sure they've been MLS since day 1.
Title: Re: head gasket level oil leak
Post by: wolf_walker on July 17, 2010, 09:25:28 pm
I put my first MLS gasket on this 1.6 with that spray copper crap all my euro shop customers rave about, first one I've had that does NOT leak oil SOMEWHERE between the head and block.
Time will tell though.
Title: Re: head gasket level oil leak
Post by: Rabbit on Roids on July 18, 2010, 10:16:46 am
copper and aluminum together do bad things. like corrode each other VERY fast. ive always used the silver colored stuff instead of the copper stuff. copper would be good on a cast iron headed engine. but for aluminum heads, ive used silver floral paint. it works great. worked on my acura, and a few of my grandpas diesels.
Title: Re: head gasket level oil leak
Post by: burn_your_money on July 18, 2010, 10:41:47 am
Yes I have heard that the early AAZs used a fiber gasket but AFAIK they are all NLA
Title: Re: head gasket level oil leak
Post by: OM617 on July 18, 2010, 02:42:51 pm
copper and aluminum together do bad things.

ONLY if there is an electrolyte present.