turbo head gasket leak

[stevejohnson]

My 89 944T (126k miles, standard boost) has been losing coolant for a month or so. Took to local independant specialist who did pressure test and said leak from cylinder 4. Much sucking in of teeth and impression that bill would be large. I presume the head comes off and is assessed and worst scenario is a crack, but could be warped or just need new gasket.
Any similar experiences? any ideas on reasonable cost? any advice on mods (eg fitting higher spec gasket)
Thanks
Steve

 

[John Sims]

Well aren't you having happy thoughts.

It is most likely the gasket. The standard one is more than adequate for standard boost for about 126K miles.

The only upgraded gasket I've heard really good things about is the Cometic but, unless you are looking for big increases in boost in the future I'd stick with standard.

I can't remember how much I paid for having a head gasket done and it would have been done as part of a service with other things at the same time.

 

[wizard]

I had the cometic MLS fitted to mine as I thought it would stand the test of time better. However, since the engine destroyed itself before the gasket......... For the new engine I deliberated a little wether to stay with the cometic or go Widefire, but listening to advice I have decided to stay with the standard part now. The cometic gasket requires a different torquing approach, mine weeped a little bit under boost. I am told the widefire is only marginly different to the standard piece and may be more approapriate to the higher HP engines. I doubt mine will ever see more than 350Bhp.

When my head came off, two of the injectors had to be replaced due to bits cracking and falling off. Also, If you have not had your belts changed, then this may be a good time to have them done too.

 

[George Elliott]

Steve, Last summer my 89 120k turbo popped the Gasket one hot day.
(My car shows a gasket replaced at 60k in the service history.)

Had me worried of course, but I pulled off the head as I enjoy[8|] some spanner work, and find 40 to 50 an hour for a guy to work at half speed hard to live with, then pay Gordon 17% on top[>:] plus "if you want it done right do it yourself" - I found the Head Gasket (Victor Reinz or similar) was totally rotten. It was crumbling in places and had popped on the circumference of number 4 cylinder, (nearest the Rear of the Car?) over a length of about 20mm.

I spoke to Promax (I'm in Ireland so no "Local" 944 specialists) and they advised / supplied me with Parts. They answer the phone if you're on a project and never tell me "their offices are closed and will open at 9am on Monday".

When I saw the rotten Gasket I was happier with the Cometic Gasket, its much less if not totally non-corrosive, but if you DIY it needs careful alignment. I Torqued up the head, replaced the Belts, Tensioners, Waterpump, Injector Plastic Tips & O-Ring seals, Various nuts/bolts and in 8k miles no issues at 1.2Bar boost, Promax Chips, DPW.

You need to be committed to DIY but its interesting for me to see the bores and actually know the condition of the engine.

If you have not "cooked" the engine I would suspect the gasket's rotten and you just need to replace it - I agree with Wizard that its a good time to do the other major jobs too.

Only thing I would add is that with the benefit of hindsight I would have waded in even deeper and replaced the Rings at the same time. My Compression is 130psi on all cylinders. You could check 3 of yours[8|].

Good luck, great old motor 'eh?

George


944T
964

 

[edh]

head gasket should be IRO £500, depending on labour rates - the belts have to come off so it's a good time to get those done as well as all you're paying extra for is the parts

 

[zcacogp]

Stupid question here chaps, but is there anything magical about head gaskets on a 944? I ask as I could swap a head gasket on any of my old Golfs within a day, with a good (but not exceptional) toolkit (torque wrench is the key tool) without working too hard. OK, you needed to know what you were doing, but it wasn't rocket science.

Is there anything fundamentally different between doing this job on a 4-pot Golf and doing this job on a 4-pot 944?


Oli.

 

[MarkK]

I have cometic on my red one,for quite a while now and no problems so far.

 

[ross255]

As zcacogp says, its not to difficult to do a headgasket yourself.
Cost will be £69 plus vat for the gasket set, but you might as well change the belts.

 

[George Elliott]

Oli,
You might do one in a day but probably not your first one.
The biggest hold up for me was having everything to complete the job.
I pulled it apart in 3 hours, and the following saturday reassembled it when I had all the bits to do it properly.
To answer your question, its not rocket science, its just a 4 cylinder car engine like the Golf you mention.
I get a great assurance that its done right with DIY because of bad experience with Main Dealers.
eg, Fit cambelt to 16v golf, - then check a week later and they have a pattern belt fitted but guaranteed it would be a genuine one Sir when it was booked in.
New A4 quattro, 50k service - changed cam belt but did not replace tension roller assembly although its part of the schedule, 80k tensioner fails, bent valves. My problem. Vorsprung durch technic. (The mechanic told me it was the old type tensioner and should have been changed)
Another Approved Used A4 quattro 12k miles with corrosion on aluminuim trim, "its not rust so not covered by the warranty Sir" - total slimey suits, but a well engineered car all the same. At trade in time I recover my losses.[]
george

944t