1980 GLi

Hi all,

Have not been on for a while, have just taken delivery of my silver 1980 GLi (series 1 dash) has not been on the road for sometime, have changed the plugs, checked  the injectors are spraying which they are and it now fires up and idles lovely, only thing I have noticed is its starting to kick a very small amount of white smoke when revved but not at all when idling, (is more of a misty smoke type thing, not thick at all) any advice would be appreciated. The engine bay is very dirty and needs a good clean but I can see oil around where the spark plugs are, when i say oil i mean oil has come from somewhere but its very dirty so hard to tell and not really a lot. I have never taken on any major engine work but am willing to give it a go but really just wanted some advice on what be a the next steps and first thing to tackle.or obvious things to check.

Kind regards Andy.

Misty smoke when you raise the RPM, on initial start of the day is usually condensation from the exhaust system.  At idle the force of the exhaust isn't getting the pipes hot enough to burn it out.  At higher RPM's the system will get hotter and vibrate a bit to help the exhaust dry out.

Oil leaks at the head, are usually the Valve cover is leaking allowing splash oil to seep out.

Not knowing the size of your engne I will go from my 80/81 Diesel Days and general 90 cabby experience.

The Valve covers are held in by a few nuts over studs, as well as the Re-enforcement bar.

They are very effective in clamping equally down on the cover.  

There are Caveats to this that you have to heed.

1. Cleanliness of the valve cover and head mating surface.



Dirty Valve cover and you can see failure of the gasket at the Bolt holes and on each side of the seal.



I use a Combination of Brake Cleaner,  Oven cleaner and then rinse of Hot soapy water and a good stiff brush to clean it. Followed by Using my hot air blower to dry it.  



I clean the Head surfaces with Brake Cleaner and a q-tip and cloth rags that are lintless.



I have been known to use 600 grit Wet or Dry Paper to shine the metal on the head, but I keep the dust out of the engine by using a lint proof cloth to catch the chaf out of the head.

If you don't have a oil windage tray, BUY one.
It fits over the journals and keeps splash oil redirected to the inside of the head and away from the cover gasket.

After about 5 years, and countless VC gasket changes,
I got one for my 1.5 Diesel out of a 83 in a Breakers.  

Going back, I always used a Cork Gasket, and learned on these critters to never use any sealant IE RTV, Shellack,
on any of the surfaces.

You are allowed 2 Drops of RED RTV to seal the Cork gasket edges to the Cam over seal at the front.  

Going back with the cover replace the Re-enforcement bar lock or flat washers, and nuts, hand tighten them in the Zig-Zag Pattern similar to head bolts start in the middle front and then over 1 and to the rear, then back to the front, working from the middle out to both ends.



After getting the bolts hand tight, use a IN/LBS 1/4 drive Torque Wrench and tighten them to 87 In/LBS 10NM no more no less, and you torque then in the same ZIG-ZAG pattern.

Too much torque as in to tight makes the gasket slip as you tighten and pucker in the back allowing Oil to Pool, and leak too loose and it will leak as well.

This Zig zag makes the head tight from the middle out to the ends and works well for the VC.

Clean the Head of residual oil and watch for leaking again,   but in my experience with the DUBS this is usually the cause of most spurious oil leaks around the head.

Thank you for your response, the engine is a 1.6 gti model. I will get the rocker cover off and clean and see how we get on, think i will take the car on a long run as its not been driven in four years, you never know it might clear something.

Any advice on best fuel to put in a late GTI 1.6 does anyone use an additive??

Andy