how long?

[shay]

Hi everyone,

can anyone give me an approximate time that it takes to do a head gasket on a 91 Gti golf?

My coolant is very milky so I am taking an educated guess that thats what it is. There is no coolant in the oil so I am guessing its not a cracked head, but in saying that I am not a mechanic so I could be all wrong too

Thanks

[The Admiral]

hi mate. Depends on whether or not you have help and the right tools. The hardest part I found was removing the exhaust manifold bolts to set the thing free. There are two ways of doing this. You can either undo the bolts from the maifold to the head, or you can crawl under the car and undo the connection from the manifold to the downpipe. If you do the latter you'll need a special tool to put it back together. The special tool can be home made. I did the former.

A friend and I managed to remove the head and fit new valves, new guides, new oil seals, springs etc (everything except the cam and bearings) as well as re-cut the valve seats in a weekend. If you're taking the head off, you'd might as well change the oil seals as it's easy to do.

Is it an 8V? Mine was.

Cheers!

The Admiral

[Pristle]

Before you jump to the head gasket, check the oil cooler. I found this to be a lot cheaper and faster to change. Mine is located between the engine and oil filter. To test it, block one end and blow into the other, if it sounds like a trumpet, it's your problem. I got a 2nd hand one from Pick a Part for $12.

[The Admiral]

Before you jump to the head gasket, check the oil cooler. I found this to be a lot cheaper and faster to change. Mine is located between the engine and oil filter. To test it, block one end and blow into the other, if it sounds like a trumpet, it's your problem. I got a 2nd hand one from Pick a Part for $12.

Where is pickapart?

Ta!

[hitmanGTI]

they are all over the place

Takanini

Otahuhu

Avondale

other places too..

u gotta take a tool box etc to pull apart the crapped out cars

[shay]

Thanks for the speedy replies everyone.

I didn't think of the oil cooler being the problem until a mate suggested to check that first too. I think I would pefer that it was the oil cooler than the head gasket as it looks the easier of the two to tackle.

At least if it turns out to be the head gasket, hes going to help do it which is really good (hes a mechanic for Audi so I trust him with my wheels).

The oil cooler does make sense as the part where the left hose (looking from the front) has been getting rather corrded from the coolant, so I am wondering if that has anything to do with it

[shay]

It seems it was the oil cooler causing the problem. We changed it over today and I am in the process of getting rid of the crap out of the cooling system. The old cooler was absolutely farked. I opted for the brand new cooler approach rather than pick a part ( Don't have them here in Christchurch and don't know if the wreckers here would have one anyway) and total cost was $121.

[gfunk]

you haven't got the green gti with clear taillights and 17" mags have you, if so it is another one of cynics old cars. A damn nice mk2, pristine condition

[shay]

No mine is a lowered red 8v big bumpered Gti. Are you in Chch Gfunk?

Was that the green Gti that was at Miles continental mid-last year? If so I had a look at it when they were sellling it

[orggti]

Those oil coolers are great arnt they, good you bought a new one if its your car and your keeping it, thats a good price anyway. i got given a mk 2 with a blown head gasket that turned out to be the cooler and yea $12 bucks from pickapart fixed that. Anyone want a good 8v GTi 1.8 motor? with slightly noisy valve gear Ie shims to thin now but better than to tight.

[Viktro]

I've seen that Green GTi as well, I didn't get a chance to go over and take a look but from a distance it looked pretty damn tidy.

[Period_Correct_]

I've seen that Green GTi as well, I didn't get a chance to go over and take a look but from a distance it looked pretty damn tidy.

that GTi was sold for a really good price as well...

[shay]

When I saw that green gti, they wanted $7000 for it

[Period_Correct_]

it didnt last long when it was advertised, did it??