blue smoke = not good

[toon vw 0]

thats exactly whats happening, left it overnight started it & it worked fine for about 45mins with a couple of stops inc. then used it about 2 hours later then after maybe 15mins it started again.

looks like you've sussed it, i've heard about £500 mentioned do you reckon thats about right & what about doing other things at the same time, timing chain etc is that advised? done 117k miles don't think its been done before.

[dr_mat 0]

Yes, if the HG is gone it's time to think about doing the timing chains, though tbh there's not *that* much shared labour. At 117k miles it's worth checking on though, definitely.

[toon vw 0]

if it is the HG, would that also fit with the plugs getting oiled up or is something totally seperate (& more expense) :cry: :cry:

[Crasher 3]

It sounds like it is over fuelling, is the smoke black and sooty?

[toon vw 0]

don't think so, not really sooty just dirty white/grey if you know what i mean..

[dr_mat 0]

Dirty white/grey isn't oil smoke mate. Blue is oil smoke. It's has a very clear, very obvious blue tint to it if you're burning serious amounts of oil.

Still the head gasket though. It is after all the responsibility of the HG to keep the oil from the water from the contents of the cylinders.

Take it to a garage, tell them to check the coolant for exhaust gas traces, that will prove it.

[toon vw 0]

just a quick update on the situation, took it round to PIT STOP in newcastle today as recommended on this forum & by a couple of mates who've had older vw's, the guy called Dave co owner seemed genuinely interested in the corrado especially the vr6 element of it,asking how much i paid, commenting on it looking beuautiful, gorgeous colour etc its just nice to see someone like that genuinely interested in the rareity of it!!, anyway he gave it a quick check while i was there & he thought it seemed to point towards HG just had a phone call off him to confirm that :( :(

regarding price he has said somewhere between 5& £600 but that is including skimming the head...how does that sound? on the upside he reckons it will be done by friday afternoon barring any probs :)

don't know why the vw specialist that is about 3 miles from my doorstep just did'nt seem interested :?:

[dr_mat 0]

I've been told you don't need to skim the head on a VR6. Or something like that. At least, if you do it has to be a very very fine skim.

[stevie_f_2004 0]

Sorry to here about the troubles; hope you get it sorted soon.....too good a car to keep off the road...

The HG is a job I'm going to tackle in the near future....got a new cover head cover gasket seal from ebay to store away and I'll pick up a head gasket and get it done then....I'll try some preventative maintenance....

 

Best of luck getting it sorted....

[stevie_f_2004 0]

Just a note also on preventative maintenance of the head gasket; worth while changing over the fuel filter and also air filter regularly. According to me dad anyway....and he also harps on about regulary checking and changing coolant to ensure temps are kept to a minimum, check the radiator for leaks as overheating is a major cause of the HG blowing and get any misfiring problems sorted as this can also lead to damage of the head gasket.....My childhood memories of me dad are bleeding brakes and talking to his feet whilst he was constantly "maintaining" his Hilman Avenger out in the street...hardcore diy..er....put me off cars for years did that Avenger!!!!

 

I've been told you don't need to skim the head on a VR6. Or something like that. At least, if you do it has to be a very very fine skim.

 

Head only needs skimmed if it's damaged. A damaged head will result in the new gasket not fully sealing and hence leaking and "blowing" again :mad:

[eatthis 0]

i may be miles off here but 500 sounds alot for hg?

i sourced the bits myself (think it cost about 70 for gasket and new bolts) got 268 cams new valve seals new tappets and dont think i payed more than 400 labour all in but my memory is useless so i may well be tottally wrong lol

[dr_mat 0]

Doesn't surprise me, tbh. A genuine gasket and bolts kit will be nearer £100+VAT and I'd guess that only leaves £300+VAT for labour to make up the magic £500 .. Depending on where you are, £300 labour is only 4 hours ..

[toon vw 0]

Well thanks for all that lads....but......even worse news now, i got rang up at work today about 2pm by the garage, & the conversation started by him asking if i was sitting down!!!

On further inspection with the head off he told me that the piston rings are totally sha#%ed, metal bits flying all over apparently :mad: :mad:

After me getting up off the floor he has basically told me that it would work out alot less expensive to source a nice low milage engine & fit that as opposed to rebuild from the bottom up, he could'nt even give me a ball park figure how much until an engine is sourced & i have'nt got a clue how much one would cost either, so i suppose i am in their hands at the moment unles anyone can think of any other options i might have !!!

[DiTch 0]

sorry i thought the problem was somthing else] and submited a reply then realized that i had not read page 2 and 3 of the thread.... good luck on your vr hunt

[toon vw 0]

yeah DiTch you may well be right but unfortunately thats not the case for me, heads off now & the piston rings are well chewed up :( time to dust off the wallet!!

[eatthis 0]

whart state are your pistons in??

how about getting a knackered 2.8 bottom end boring it to 2.9 new rings your pistons etc?

[toon vw 0]

to be honest i have'nt got a clue what state they're in, i'm just bowing to the proffesionals advice which was it'll be cheaper to replace like for like as opposed to a rebuild.....like the fool that i am :lol: :lol: