[1.6 FSI] - Headgasket Replacement Preparation

E

Evripidis

Member
Hi all,

I have done the glove test on the expansion tank and I am waiting - probably for ever - a sniff test to arrive to test the coolant for emission gases.

The glove test gave a positive result when the car reached operating temeprature but, only in a mild manner did the glove give me the finger. I suspect that under load the crack/split or whatever becomes larger and the pressurisation more prevalent.

So, if I were to go on and take the head out, what else is it the norm to replace aside from the gasket itself and the bolts. Valve stem seals and that's it?

Evros
 
Evripidis said:
Hi all,

I have done the glove test on the expansion tank and I am waiting - probably for ever - a sniff test to arrive to test the coolant for emission gases.

The glove test gave a positive result when the car reached operating temeprature but, only in a mild manner did the glove give me the finger. I suspect that under load the crack/split or whatever becomes larger and the pressurisation more prevalent.

So, if I were to go on and take the head out, what else is it the norm to replace aside from the gasket itself and the bolts. Valve stem seals and that's it?

Evros
Click to expand...
Consider having the head lightly skimmed, to ensure it's perfectly flat, (the head gasket failed for a reason), and have the valves lapped into the seats. Auto workshop would do both as a normal refurb. They'll check the valves too.
While the head is off, you could do a leak down test, where a small amount of thin oil is poured into each cylinder, to check piston rings and bore. However, this might tell you more than you want to know!
Mac.
 
Evripidis said:
Hi all,

I have done the glove test on the expansion tank and I am waiting - probably for ever - a sniff test to arrive to test the coolant for emission gases.

The glove test gave a positive result when the car reached operating temeprature but, only in a mild manner did the glove give me the finger. I suspect that under load the crack/split or whatever becomes larger and the pressurisation more prevalent.

So, if I were to go on and take the head out, what else is it the norm to replace aside from the gasket itself and the bolts. Valve stem seals and that's it?

Evros
Click to expand...
All your coolant plastic pipes etc
 
Thank you all for your responses, much appreciated.

I have also put exhaust bolts/nuts on the list plus gaskets.

The cooling system is leak free and all the parts less than 5 years old if not less.

@PlasticMac Mac, the compression tests I did a while back where marginal so not expecting miracles. But then again maybe they can be attributed to a blown gasket. The bottom end appears to be all right with minimal play. The car returns the better side of 47mpg as it is now. My only fear is a cracked head or block and the means to have it tested properly. Shipping a head/block from anywhere to here is very expensive.
 
Evripidis said:
Thank you all for your responses, much appreciated.

I have also put exhaust bolts/nuts on the list plus gaskets.

The cooling system is leak free and all the parts less than 5 years old if not less.

@PlasticMac Mac, the compression tests I did a while back where marginal so not expecting miracles. But then again maybe they can be attributed to a blown gasket. The bottom end appears to be all right with minimal play. The car returns the better side of 47mpg as it is now. My only fear is a cracked head or block and the means to have it tested properly. Shipping a head/block from anywhere to here is very expensive.
Click to expand...
Your "so/so" compression test could well be be valve related, more likely than bore/piston I think.
Mac.
 
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