Head Gasket Failure - What do I look for?

[ktg1000]

Morning everyone. I've been on the lookout now for a reliable run around so I don't have to take the Chim to work which is just three miles up the road and full of mud. I'm going to see a Golf Driver this afternoon and have heard nothing from friends and family other than head gasket failures...apparently we've had a few of these Golfs in the family that have gone belly up on the gasket. It's a '91 Golf Driver with 127k on the clock, little history....can anyone point me out on what to look for? Cheers KTG

[dannyboyo]

A couple of things really, mainly water in the oil. Which can sometimes be given away by "mayo" on the oil filler cap.

Also water been forced out of the expansion tank if the gasket has blown between the cylinder and the water jacket.

My last golf was an '86 Gti and I bought it on 245,000 miles. Did me fine without and problems up till 275,000. These cars go forever.

>> Edited by dannyboyo on Saturday 3rd January 10:44

[mustard]

the biggest thing to watch on Golfs of that age is the pierburg carburettor functions correctly, particulary from cold, the carbs on these are an over comlex device which can be troublesome.

regards headgaskets, think they were just unlucky, ive ran 1588carb, 1995carb and 1781inj VW's and never had one go. I would go as far as to say they are one of the toughest engines around, my 1.8i was given serious grief in all of its 40k-112k miles with me

just look for regular oil changes using proper VAG filters and decent oil and they'll run forever

>> Edited by mustard on Saturday 3rd January 10:52