Poor running and thick white smoke...

Hi, I'm having a bit of trouble…

I have just bought a 1.6 cabrio running a Peirburg 2e2 and had a few problems with the high idle on start up but it settles down when warmed up, it was running great and have done about 300 miles since i got the car.

I did a 30 mile trip down the motorway and it ran great, then I parked it up for a couple of hours and started it up no probs but a few hundred yards down the road it started to splutter, i thought it was the carb so played with it and got it running but with no idle, i got it to a friend house about 5 miles away and left it overnight, then when starting up in the morning theres thick white smoke and still no idle.

I've pulled the plugs and they are covered in oil, I've done a compression test (with an un-calibrated tester) and getting between 14-15bar across all 4. I know it should be 7.5is but it is un-calibrated. so not sure if its the rings

I called the recovery and they reckon its the head gasket.. I'm not convinced! Has anyone had a similar problem or experience of this? Also does anyone know if there's any good 80's VW mechanics in the Northwest who know there stuff?

Thanks

Mike

As your title says 'poor running and thick white smoke' it would suggest the head gasket. If you go to a MOT test station. And get them to check your radiator for hydrocarbons. Other wise aske them too pressurise the coolant in your rad. And if the pressure gauge goes down. If it goes down and you have no leaks eg out of pipes etc. Im affriad it could well be your head gasket mate.

Also youve not mentioned if the coolent levels have gone down at all?

 Id recommend Berts, but his place is midlands, ie birmingham.

sorry, the coolant level has not dropped, no mayo residue on the oil cap, I took rocker cover off last night and no mayo there either. but the breather is gunked up, it went dark before I could get any further. hopefully an early finish at work so i can carry on investigating!

brums a bit far fo me to be taking it, thanks though


Mike

I have fixed it….

After a lot of messing about I have found the problems!

The rocker cover oil breather pipe was blocked up with crap, that cured the smoke problem!
I changed the o-ring between the head and inlet manifold (the old one was swollen).
I stripped down the 2E2 and fitted new gaskets jets and tested it.
New plugs, rotar arm, dizzy cap and it still spluttered everywhere. Put this down to rust in the tank, so a new filter and some fishing about with a magnet it now runs. It's idling a bit high but I think I have a faulty 3/4 unit. I have another so hopefully i can change that out

well done, great progress