EdF
05-12-2012, 12:16 PM
In the summer oil appeared in the coolant header tank with associated dash alarm. Took it to a specialist VW garage (non-franchise) who diagnosed either the oil cooler failing or the head gasket. They disconnected the oil cooler, flushed through the coolant and I ran the car with no problems for a couple of weeks and oil didn't return to the coolant. So I took the car back and the garage fitted a new oil cooler. All was well until this week when oil returned to the header tank, but not much.. The garage told me that there's a small oil seal in a head gasket water channel which would have been damaged by the original oil contamination and so the head gasket needs replacing. the first job cost over £500 (despite a quote for £200!!) and £500 is the quote again this time. My question is, how difficult is this job? I'm quite competent at mechanical work (having rebuilt two Land Rovers) but a modern diesel partial engine strip is a bit daunting. The last engine jobs I did were to a few Minis!
Edit: Additional. The garage owner told me that the fault was an 'O' ring in the head gasket which is affected by oil and would have 'collapsed in on itself'.. Can anyone tell me if this might be correct? Thanks. My faith in VW's (my fourth) has waned somewhat.
Edit: Additional. The garage owner told me that the fault was an 'O' ring in the head gasket which is affected by oil and would have 'collapsed in on itself'.. Can anyone tell me if this might be correct? Thanks. My faith in VW's (my fourth) has waned somewhat.