Are my pistons damaged too much? Pictures

[james277553]

Just had head gasket go on my Golf GTD after running 20psi for too long on standard gasket and bolts. oops.
 When I took head off I noticed the pistons don't look in great shape. What do people think about the damage to the lower edge? there all like it a bit but middles are the worst. I also noticed I have valve marks on the pistons looks like they made contact at some point. The engine was running fine before head gasket blew, (I had exhaust gasses blowing though the coolant side), its always been a little lumpy on start-up but I put this down to running advanced timing.
 

[james277553]

[theman53]

Get some new injectors so it doesn't get worse and run it.

[james277553]

I the injectors were rebuilt and calibrated 25,000 miles ago (March 2009). so I would have thought there ok. I am now thinking it might be caused by me running the car on SVO (cooking oil) for a bit, I didn't like the way the car ran on the stuff so stopped it. Looks like it might have cause the damage.
 

[TylerDurden]

The SVO might have trashed your injectors. I'd get em checked.

[R.O.R-2.0]

thats from bad spray pattern..

i run over 20psi, and likely more fuel, and my pistons are in fine shape..

[james277553]

cheers for the info ppl. I'll get the injectors tested and make sure there ok.I also found out tonight after some measuring I was sold the wrong head gasket last time I put a new one in. when I got gasket from parts place they sent me a 3 holed gasket instead of 1 like the old one that came off. I sent it back and argued that it should be the same number of holes. the bloke told me that was the only one they list so can't be any other thicknesses so will be ok. this time I ordered gasket from the same place the bloke asks me which one I needed as there's three to choose from !! the  lesson there is that I should have read more on this forum to find out the differences in gaskets and it's effects. anyway thanks again for the info this forum is a life saver at times.

[745 turbogreasel]

Neither of those is the right way to choose you HG, measure the stickup of all the pistons.
what kind of EGT's were you running?  That too can cause erosion over time.

[air-cooled or diesel]

like above you can measure piston protrusion for right h/g
being you have head off, you could consider new pistons right about now.
solving (and correcting)why you have problems like you have with the pistons would be better than just getting new pistons though
that 1 valve is gone, if that happened since you did head last then that valve needs to be replaced

[Dakotakid]

Yet, MORE reasons NOT to purchase stuff from Parts Place....yes?
Talk about a business nose-diving over the course of a decade or so.

[burn_your_money]

Yet, MORE reasons NOT to purchase stuff from Parts Place....yes?
Talk about a business nose-diving over the course of a decade or so.

  OPs in the UK, I doubt he bought from Parts Place.

[james277553]

I did exactly that to work out which gasket this time, I measured all the pistons protrusions and they stand between 0.65-0.80 above the block, so from what it says in my manual I need the one hole gasket.
I am seriously considering replacing the pistons while its in this state just really tight on funds at the mo, I will get them priced up and go from there. I've also never attempted this before so don't know how hard it is. I would also need to hone the bores as they look quite polished. This area of mechanics is unknown to me so could do with some pointers. e.g measuring and selecting which oversize pistons to go for. anyway i'll start pricing up and see what it adds up to.
As to the damage I think it must be from cooking oil, my EGT's get up to about 600oC at worst and only if i'm racing up a really steep hill. normally running 200oC on the motorway. is that too much? from what i've read its within the safe zone. I've got a massive intercooler to help keep themps down, it was removed from a subaru impreza, it is a bit ott but was a very good price and came with loads of alloy tubing. 
The parts place where I get my parts is a small company in Devon uk. There normally pretty good I think what happened is they have changed computer systems and parts suppliers so have better info on correct parts. The reason I stick with them is my partners dad works there delivering parts so I get 50% off most parts service parts. This saves me a fortune on keeping my car running.
 

[TylerDurden]

The cylinders/ring can be fine even when the bores are smooth. My 1.6td bores are smooth & shiny and the compression was >420psi in all holes.

If the SVO was not de-watered, the injector pintles could have gotten corroded and sprayed poorly.

I would spend the funds on testing/repairing the injectors and maybe testing the IP.  Re-ring/overbore is prolly not needed, unless you were detecting some evidence of wear before the HG blew.

[james277553]

It never let me down but was breathing quite heavy from rocker cover in the last year. I'd done the valve stem seals so think its rings. It still doesn't seem to use much oil but not doing that many miles.
As the engine was running ok before gasket blew I am tempted to bolt it all back together and drive till it goes bang, I just haven't got the funds, we've just had a baby and Christmas is round the corner. in the mean time i'll source another engine or parts and rebuilt it ready to drop in, I'm only doing 4,500 miles a year so might last couple more years.

[theman53]

There is barely anything missing from your pistons. Nothing was hurt too bad. Just replace the injectors or have new nozzles and recalibrated. It will be fine, there is nothing to be worried about.