Well its been 11 years since my last Skoda ownership, bit of a surprise getting the VRS off my Son.

He bought it three and a half years ago with 22,000 miles and full service history.

Now at 72,000 mls.

He booked it in for service and cam belt 4 weeks ago and has been having to top up his expansion bottle 

since January.

Garage advised they thought the head gasket was leaking .

Back story is he had Darkside  -175 bhp or something map it but didn't know about the head bolt issue.

Any how this is where things stand now.

Any ideas help or advice welcome on what to do next.

It has the following engine code ASZ if that helps

Thanks in advance.

Change the head gasket and fit PD150 bolts.

Yip, get the head skimmed, new gasket and stronger PD150 bolts.

On 31/05/2019 at 22:33, sepulchrave said:

Change the head gasket and fit PD150 bolts.

Hi sepulchrave, appreciate your thoughts,am reasonably good with working on engines but its been a while i have a haynes manual on the fabia and enjoy getting my hands dirty.

Assuming I only swap out the head bolts and gasket and don't get the head skimmed then if it works that would be great, but if it doesn't I expect the new head gasket will be requiring replacement again.

My call I know but as it needs a cam belt and water pump so there is a bit to do.

I have read it's best to use a genuine skoda head gasket for certain issues of a member on here not a pd engine and a recconised quality belt brand.

Cheers.

 

Yes, use a genuine head gasket, if you can get the head face really clean you may get away without skimming it, however I'm not recommending that course of action.

On 02/06/2019 at 11:15, steveo1 said:

Yip, get the head skimmed, new gasket and stronger PD150 bolts.

Hi stevo1, appreciate your thoughts on the head gasket issue, as you can see  a nother member has suggested an alternative solution, both are possible solutions but which one is up to me, your suggestion will cost more but might not be required.

Not suggesting one  is correct,one not for one second.

Supposing I get the head skimmed there must be a maximum amount that can be removed other wise i would need a replacement head.

If it's OK to be skimmed I assume  I use a thicker gasket to keep the valve clearance and compression ratio as factory.

Cheers.

 

 

8 minutes ago, sepulchrave said:

Yes, use a genuine head gasket, if you can get the head face really clean you may get away without skimming it, however I'm not recommending that course of action.

Hi, no worries,  I know it's my choice, just never encountered a warped head before so just looking for thoughts on options, really disappointed my son did not research pror to having it altered.

Yes would prefer genuine parts as well for a critical item as this is.

Thanks.

42 minutes ago, kentdale said:

Hi, no worries,  I know it's my choice, just never encountered a warped head before so just looking for thoughts on options, really disappointed my son did not research pror to having it altered.

Yes would prefer genuine parts as well for a critical item as this is.

Thanks.

 

You're disappointed that your son didn't do the job properly and plumped for instant gratification instead? 😂

52 minutes ago, sepulchrave said:

 

You're disappointed that your son didn't do the job properly and plumped for instant gratification instead? 😂

Well he reminds me of me,forging his own path, like the time I was changing the two yes two spark plugs on my racing red citroen dyane engine and not starting the insertion by hand and stripping the threads,had to get it hellicoiled.

Lesson learned.