Possible head gasket issue on my Mk1 Octavia VRS. Waiting on my mechanic to take a proper look at it over the coming weeks. So, if worse comes to worse and it is that, instead of getting the engine rebuilt I'm thinking of replacing it altogether. But, I'm struggling to find an engine that is suitable. Especially an AUQ one. Ideally I'd like to go for a like for like replacement. But whatever the case may be it has to be low mileage, and in top condition. 

Note: been reading about the BAM conversion and just wondering would that be an option?A worthy option? Also there's a 5 speed box in mine not a 6 speed. 

Any advice appreciated 

Better the devil you know unless your mechanics advice is that the engine is shot.  For the price of a head skim, gasket, bolts, belt and tensioner(s), if the rest is sound I wouldn't replace it with one of unknown provenance.

 

There was a chap on here years ago (Rotodiesel?) who was in the know/trade and said on more than one occasion that there wasn't much in it between the five and six speed boxes.

 

Gaz

 

It's a strange one, no loss of power, no overheating what so ever (when I say no over heating I mean the guage never goes above 90 and there's never been smoke coming out from under the bonnet, although she does seem to run quite hot) no milky/foamy gunk on dipstick or oil cap. But, losing coolant rapidly and when brought on a good drive for 45 minutes or so when I stop and turn the car off the coolant reservoir starts gurgling. Radiator never warms up. Radiator fan comes on now and then not v often at all. On start up, she runs at a high rev (1) until the car gets to operating temperature. No power in it until it gets to operating temperature (only way I can describe that is its like she's suffocated or something, like she can't open up or something) but in general all the time idles slightly rough. Only slightly. Smell of petrol from the oil as well. As I said its a hard one to diagnose. But thinking, how reliable is it to get a head gasket done? Also there's 186 thousand miles on it so not exactly low

Our Mk2 Golf GTI 16v had the same symptoms and was confirmed HG failure.  Didn't have time to DIY, so went to a local VW indy.  Once fixed it was right as rain.

 

I wonder if the petrol in the oil is a separate issue.  Worn bores or rings might be causative given the mileage, and the fact power improves with temperature (i.e. compression). Although that could also be injectors/injector loom, or several other possibilities.

 

It'll be interesting to see what your mech says.

 

Gaz

How much did they charge to do the head for you? I just don't know is it worth it with 186 thousand miles on the clock. Plus also, how reliable is getting the head gasket done because I've heard stories about people getting it done only for it to go again a few weeks later. 

It's not really comparable financially, as it was probably 16 years ago our Mk2 Golf's HG went.  Repair then was in the region of £500.

 

I bought a Mk1 Golf with a failed HG in 2007.  Stripped and rebuilt the engine myself, albeit having the head skimmed locally.  Neither the Mk1, nor Mk2 had any HG problems after they were repaired.  if a job's worth doing... 

 

In my opinion, a simple HG failure and remedial work should not result in failure a few weeks later, unless something was missed (e.g. another problem) or work was not completed properly.

 

186k miles doesn't necessarily mean the engine's dead, nor any more worn than one with under half that mileage.  It depends on how well they've been looked after.

 

Gaz

@john999boy could you shorten the thread title to the first sentence and "engine replacement / head gasket options?"

its a bit long at the minute

 

i would agree with Gaz though, get it skimmed, and while its off check the cylinder/piston etc condition and see how it all looks.

 

getting another engine, youd end uo stripping it for piece of mind anyway.  

Edited 25 August, 20223 yr by mac11irl

How do I shorten the thread? Tried doing it when I fist posted it but couldn't figure out how

14 minutes ago, ZakG010 said:

How do I shorten the thread? Tried doing it when I fist posted it but couldn't figure out how

 

Not sure you'll be able to without becoming a Freedom member.  John's one of our moderators, and will be able to do it for you.

 

And agreeing with Mac, with the Mk1, I took the opportunity to check the pots, valves, stem seals, followers, crank and big ends, before having the headwork completed.  Would've been daft not to!

 

Gaz

47 minutes ago, mac11irl said:

@john999boy could you shorten the thread title to the first sentence and "engine replacement / head gasket options?"

its a bit long at the minute

 

i would agree with Gaz though, get it skimmed, and while its off check the cylinder/piston etc condition and see how it all looks.

 

getting another engine, youd end uo stripping it for piece of mind anyway.  

 

35 minutes ago, ZakG010 said:

How do I shorten the thread? Tried doing it when I fist posted it but couldn't figure out how

Already done, as I noticed the title.

 

On 24/08/2022 at 10:46, Gaz said:

There was a chap on here years ago (Rotodiesel?) who was in the know/trade and said on more than one occasion that there wasn't much in it between the five and six speed boxes.

Correct, there's very little difference in the two. I have all the ratios on my computer, but some people just won't have it and believe in the 6-speed better. I have no idea if the box is stronger to cope with more power, but the AUQ can still output 300lbft...

EDIT.
 

Found it -