?????????????????Is it my head Gasket?????????????help!!!!!!

What are the symtoms of my Head Gasket going?????

It was Christmas Eve of all busy days, for my car to show signs of trouble, but never have I had any trouble in my newly owned Mk1 GTi Campaign!

I dont know if it was because of the quick run to see how quick it was on the motorway, but having come off the long motorway run, the car seemed ok

It was after parking it for two hours, and driving it down the road for 6miles, i parked up, and switched the engine, and this was were i heard the engine bay noise of boiling water

Suddenly, steam was bellowing out from the front!!!!!
I left it for 30minutes, and opened the engine bay

There I saw N0 water at all in the water bottle, I went and bought some water and drank like a fish, lets say 4 little bottles of still mineral water, and 0ff i went back home, 35 miles away!

Having returned home, l realised the water bottle was a near empty again, at the same time, the temp on the dash seemed 0k!

I parked it back in the garage,then topped it up again, and a few hours later, I started her up, and the same sign of normal tick over, and white steam smoke coming out from the exhaust,which is normal

I reversed it out of the garage, and noticed a puddle of water in the garage

I left her running a little,, but heard no radiator!

Anyway, i reversed it back into the garage noticing a an0ther puddle again on the drive where i left it running, but heard no radiator! and a tickle trail 0f water as the car was reversed back in the garage:{

 
I need help!!! ASAP what can u tell me guys????

Dry the engine off, fill with water, start engine and check for leaks from the system (hoses, water pump, radiator, cylinder head and expansion tank). Check for water in the oil (white gunk) which shows a blown cylinder head gasket. Check the thermostat by feeling for hot water in the top radiator hose. Check the fan is coming on shortly after the thermostat has opened.

White smoke from the exhaust on a warm engine is NOT normal. Another sign of a blown cylinder head gasket.

Cheers
Rajan

Check all your jubilee clips etc that hold the hoses in place. Had a very similar situation losing coolant and a hising noise coming from engine bay - turned out to be a failed jubilee clip on expansion tank hose. Only leaked when coolant got up to temp and pressure. Sounds like you could well have such a leak.

As Dubboy says you shouldn't have white smoke constantly coming from exhaust, but in the winter you will get some condesation on a cold start, all cars do this. This should clear quite quickly.

Cheers

As well as the things to check mentioned above, the other thing to check for is hairline split or crack in the expansion bottle.

I have just had a very similar thing and the coolant only escapes when it gets hot enough to evaporate. Dry off the expansion  tank and then look for water forming on the outside as it warms up.

Also don't leave just ordinary water in the system for any longer than you have to. Once you find the leak, drain and refill with the correct ratio of coolant and de-ionised water.

Also check the heater valve is not leaking and that the heater matrix under the dash is not leaking.

Hope you find out whats causing the problem.

Cheers,

Chris.

Thanks Mark, Chris and Dubb0y!!!
Just cud n0t wait f0r the new year t0 repair and find 0ut what the symt0m was 0n the water l0ss!

S0 t00k it t0 VW, where a friend 0f mine w0rks, yes! 0n New Years Eve,and guess what???thank G0d it was a burst rubber tube piping, as y0u guys said!!!

And whilst it was inside the garage, i  guess I f0und a friend! Yep, he was a Mk1 0wner and has been w0rking in Vw f0r 28 years, s0 i think he is a bit 0f an expert!

he even cured my dr0pped drivers d00r! with an instrument just f0r the j0b, as this was a familiar thing f0r Mk3 and Mk1! Yank and b0b's y0ur uncle!

And guess what, I pay f0r the piping, which I think is cheap, and the lab0ur free 0f charge!! h0w g00d are they??

Am Chuffed n0w, and 0ff I g0 again int0 the distance with my Mk1!!

Next j0b is t0 s0rt 0ut the gear change linkage and t0 put 0n s0me decent c0il0vers, which I h0pe s0me0ne here can help me 0ut in which type 0r d0nate  a set t0 me!!! cheap!!

And eventually my BBS 15" RM are put 0n!!!!Nice!

thanks again guys f0r y0u helpful advice!

Happy New year!

Good to hear you had an easy repair! Keep an eye on that coolant level though, as excessive white smoke from a warm engine does mean a leaky head gasket.

Could you name the garage as sounds like a helpful one that may benefit others in the area?

Cheers
Rajan

if y0u check 0n the 0wners manual, its 0n page 57, and the cause 0f the pr0blem is a split Bypass h0se, which is 0ne 0f the water pump c0mp0nents!! as indicated 0n diagram number 8

thanks guys!!! f0r reasuring me!!!

The Vdub guy just stuck 0ne 0f th0se pump things int0 the expanding water tank, and 0ut came gas and water fr0m the leaky h0se!! clever!

N0rm