New owner with jobs to do..

A2Tone

Member
Hi all, I've just picked up a 1.4 tdi SE in silver
and think i need a head gasket and a large oil leak at the back of the gearbox..
I've been offered another engine and box from a scrapper but don't know if its easier just swapping them over..
I'll do some investigating over the next few days and see what i can find out...
Here's hoping and anymore owners in East Lancashire..
 
Sounds interesting.. I already have local parts supply.. I'm looking forward to getting the ramps and tools out...
 
Check the EGR valve for the oil leak. The oil runs down the back of the engine coming out over the O/S drive shaft output on the gearbox
 
Check the EGR valve for the oil leak. The oil runs down the back of the engine coming out over the O/S drive shaft output on the gearbox
Thanks Steve, The oil is dropping on the drive shaft but its on the near side... Its also sprayed around the N/S/F wheel arch cover..
 
No that is the ABS pump. The tandem pump is located on the right hand end of the head .
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Indicated by the arrows and with the engine cover removed. Look at all rubber hoses and check for swelling or turning to mush a sure sign the tandem pump is leaking diesel.
 
No that is the ABS pump. The tandem pump is located on the right hand end of the head .
View attachment 47428
Indicated by the arrows and with the engine cover removed. Look at all rubber hoses and check for swelling or turning to mush a sure sign the tandem pump is leaking diesel.
Thanks for that.. I'll take a look tomorrow and let you know...
 
Hi again..
Unfortunately, i think ive found the reason for the oily slime being thrown around at the gearbox side of the engine bay..
I've only had the car a few days and i knew there was a headgasket issue when i bought but I've always loved the design of the A2 and this was mega cheap so i thought I'd take it on and I love tinkering around when i have time...
The attached pictures show what i dug out of the expansion tank..
I cant believe that this must be building up inside the water galleries in the engine..
There's no heat coming out of the heater even though i haven't run it on the road and have just run the engine for a maximum of 10mins with an occassional blip on the throttle. ( I've read that at this time of year it takes a long time to warm up if its not being driven on the road).
Oh and there is only just pure water and oil and no anti freeze in the car at the moment from what i can see..

My question is
Is it worth draining all the cooling system and then taking out the thermostat, reconnecting and then adding a cool system flush and running for 15 mins or so and then draining again and repeat until the water drains out clear or just go ahead and change the head gasket straight away and flush out afterwards..
The reason i ask is could the oil be coming from the oilcooler possibly and by bypassing it i could remove a possible cause..
I just can't believe there's so much of the oily slime..
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Sorry for the repeat pictures. Still finding my way around the posting process.. haha..
I'm better with spanners than technology..
 
I would check the cheaper option first. disconnect as many hoses as possible and flush out with water. Remove expansion tank and clean with boiling soapy water blanking off the openings. If still dirty use fresh water and some coarse sand or fine gravel and shake well. Again flush when clean. Oil cooler cheap and easy to replace so if any doubts about it replace it. Replace the thermostat and coolant sensor also. Reconnect hoses and fill with water and run engine, if still more gunge in the expansion tank then use a flush recommended for aluminium engines. When clean fill with the correct coolant which is G12, G12+, G12++ etc ONLY, use premixed far easier. Hopefully that has cured the problem and not the head gasket.
 
Well because the weather is supposed to be so cold tonight i thought I'd remove the bottom hose on the rad and this is what i found...
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Im not surprised you had no cabin heat. It is going to take a lot of cleaning. Break the cooling system down in to smaller pieces and flush each individually rather than try to do the whole system. Suggest doing the engine the radiator and the cabin heater individually and remove as many hoses as possible for flushing. Change the stat and temp sensor as that contamination will not have been good for them. Almost looks like someone has filled the coolant system with oil instead!!! What does the oil cap look like? Never seen a head gasket failure look anything like that. A water pump change now is also advisable.
 
If it had been a head gasket then i had it in mind to change the water pump and timing belt..
Its just going to be a long steady job from what i can see.
How do you flush and clean the radiator or is it worth getting a second hand one,before i buy new, until i know it will run without any damage..
 
I've been around engine for 40+ years and I have NEVER seen anything like that.
I don't think this will be head gasket, there is far too much oil in the waterways for it to be coming from the head gasket (unless someone has taken the head off and not fitted an head gasket :))
The oil cooler is a possibility.
Is there any water in the oil ?

cheers,
 
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