Head gasket?

[captainchunk]

Hi all,

I'm new on the forum and have got a problem with my Mk2 16v Golf. The car over heated all of a sudden, so I pulled over turned the engine off and water was leaking from the expansion tank and lost nearly all the water.

I had a look at it today, refilled the expansion tank. Started it up and it ran fine, I removed the expansion tank feed to check if the water pump had failed. While waiting for it to heat up, heat was coming from the heaters so that points to the pump working. The water level dropped which was probably due to air in the system, I added more water while running and still no water was coming from the expansion tank return. I decided to put the cap back on and the water pressure increased and water sprayed from the return pipe, I turned the engine off and removed the cap and the pressure in the system forced out about 1 litre of water.

Does this sound like the head gasket has gone and it's pressurising the cooling system? or could it be something else? Oh and the water light in the car was flashing, not straight away, when it was getting upto temperature

Many Thanks
Dan

[kenney]

Thermostat??????Radiator cooling fan is it active when the engine overheats??

[captainchunk]

Hi,

I've not checked the thermostat yet, but would the stat cause it to suddenly overheat like it did?

Thanks,
Dan

[superslowtdi]

Sounds like water pump, water gets hot quickly as it is presurised, and not circulating. First check the thermostat, cheap and easy to exchange, any oil in water?

[captainchunk]

There is no water in the oil, The heater was giving constant warm air... I thought if the pump had failed the heater wouldn't work.

Thanks,
Dan

[TWVB]

When Engine Is Warm Feel The Bottom Hose On Radiator If That Stays Cold Its The Therostat
Also You Said Water Came Out Of Expansion Tank When Closed?
It Could Just Be Your Cap Is Broken Allowing Water Out Of The Drian At Side Of Tank
Your Water System Runs Under Pressure When Operating Normally Anyway

[Telekon]

Hello, newbie here.
My 1984 jetta gl, is also having similar issues.

"When Engine Is Warm Feel The Bottom Hose On Radiator If That Stays Cold Its The Therostat "

It stays cold, top hose is hot. Water boils out of overflow bottle.

Thermostat is new, and tested in boiling water, open at 195 degrees.
Head gasket new also, inspected water pump visualy, look excellent.

Please if you can tell me why still boils over, is thermo to strong.
Or has water pump foooled me and is bad.

[TWVB]

Hello, newbie here.
My 1984 jetta gl, is also having similar issues.

"When Engine Is Warm Feel The Bottom Hose On Radiator If That Stays Cold Its The Therostat "

It stays cold, top hose is hot. Water boils out of overflow bottle.

Thermostat is new, and tested in boiling water, open at 195 degrees.
Head gasket new also, inspected water pump visualy, look excellent.

Please if you can tell me why still boils over, is thermo to strong.
Or has water pump foooled me and is bad.

is hot air coming into cabin?
system may be airlocked
try running car with cap off the water bottle till the fan kicks in
keep water topped up
put cap back on
bottom hose should now be hot
if not try same thing with thermostat out

[Telekon]

Hot air is comming into cabin.

I will try cap off water bottle, till fan kicks in today.

Never heard of Airlock before, and did not see mention of
it in manual.

Thank you.

[adamss24]

Check the water pump, i think the impeller has come off the shaft and its not pumping the water trough the system. Is the top rad. hose getting rock hard before the water boils ?

[Telekon]

I did the cap off water thing.

The fan finally came on after a long time, for got to look at watch.

I replace water as it flew out, when fan came on everything went calm.

Fan only stay on for a minute or two. then off.

so I toped off bottle and closed with cap. let run for little bit, then turn off.

Felt of bottom hose during process, it finally did get hot.

Test drive will be tonite at 8.

[TWVB]

cool let us know how you get on.

[Telekon]

Drove 5 miles. with miltiple stop signs.

no boil over.

also, use to make gurgle and clunk noises in the radiator area, when car was
turned off.

no noises this time. seems to have worked.

Will go on longer trip this weekend.

Thank you very much for the help!