Right i've just noticed this on the front left corner of my engine. It's not fair - I just changed the flippin' gasket!

I may be stupid, but I do realise i'm gonna have to have that head off again. What I wanna know is WHAT did I do wrong, and HOW can I avoid doing it again.

Also this 1.05 Mk3 Coupe needs a new fuel tank, new front shocks and a new LH driveshaft.

Also it has a cold starting problem - maybe it's this or maybe it's the timing or maybe something else is fucked that I don't know about.

This is my daily ride.

Do you think I should scrap it or spend my 6 week summer holiday grazing my knuckles and covered in all types of shite?

I can assure you i'm NOT a happy man.

Edited 16 July, 200719 yr by Chuck Yoghurt

ummm whats wrong with it?

is it actually leaking or has it just got rain water splashed on it? clean it up and see how it goes.

rite I see where you coming from now, I'd do the same, clean it n suck it n see, could be just the last of the water droplets getting out of the system.

rite I see where you coming from now, I'd do the same, clean it n suck it n see, could be just the last of the water droplets getting out of the system.

I'm all in favour of trying the easy/cheap stuff first and i'll follow your suggestion.

BUT I fear that orangey brown gunk is engine oil, and of course that surface was completely clean after I stuck the head back on.

I bought this a year ago and so far it's had a new clutch, new master brake cyl, new rear wheel cyl and the head gasket.

Now it needs all the other stuff I listed, and I feel pretty downhearted. The only argument in favour of fixing it all instead of getting another car is I always end up buying fucking lemons. I seem to have a sign above my head -

"WANK MOTORS BOUGHT HERE!"

I've had gaskets leak/seep slightly for a couple of days n then they stop so fingers crossed it's just that :)

I've had gaskets leak/seep slightly for a couple of days n then they stop so fingers crossed it's just that :)

Hope so - thanks for the reassurance, mate!

it is just gutting when it doesn't go quite to plan, you'll get there in the end

the browny stuff is rusty water not oil. Oil would either be black or creamy white (if it had mixed with water).

It's definitely oil - I scraped some off and it was thick, gooey and depressing.

My rocker cover gasket is leaking slightly, god knows how many times i've realigned it but it never wants to keep the bloody oil in. Proper pisses me off, but its not a major leak and I'm just getting used to trickles of oil down the side of the head lol.

Mine needs new suspension so i see it as a good excuse to go lower! I also need a new engine, steering rack needs attention, and possibly the brake drums too as they are rather rusty. The only way i see it, is that once I've sorted out these failry major issues, anythign alse that goes wrong is likely to be relatively minor.

IF thats not the case i will go to sleep on a traintrack.

Ha Ha!

I used to have a mk2 that never, EVER went wrong or needed anything done in 7 years and 80,000 miles. That's why I bought this, as i'm skinto, and I thought - it's a dub - i'll never have to spend time and money on it!!! WRONG!!!!!

It occurs to me now, that this whole forum is full of people having trouble with their polos!!!!!!!!!

Why did they ever let the Spanish build them for god's sake?

Edited 16 July, 200719 yr by Chuck Yoghurt

did you check if the head was warped before you put it back on?

did you have the head skimmed before you put it back on?

these are essential things to do when changing the headgasket otherwise it isnt worth it!

I'm hoping you did the above.

J

I've had 2 changed on different cars and neither leaked. so to say you have to skim them all the time is a little extreme imo

well you've been very lucky then

all I'm saying is that is the way to do the job PROPERLY and to be almost 99% sure you wont get a leak again.

I've heard people complaining before and all they've done is just whack a new gasket on there!! not thinking as to whats caused it tio leak in the first place!

for all they know the head could be corroded, warped etc

and so could the block be corroded or deformed

you should at the very very least check for squareness of the head and block mating surfaces!

well you've been very lucky then

yea I know what you mean about the skimming though, fair play. Best to be safe n all that.

I never skimmed mine either and it was reet. However, if I was to do it on the Lupo or the G I'd have its skimmed to be on the safe side.

Depends how much you care about the car/engine.

I never skimmed mine either and it was reet. However, if I was to do it on the Lupo or the G I'd have its skimmed to be on the safe side.

Depends how much you care about the car/engine.

Although my love for this car has been dented, I certainly care about it failing to start when I need to get to work!!!!

I did have the head skimmed, and cleaned the block surface with fine emery paper. I didn't check the block for squareness, but I hadn't heard it was adviseable!! If it's warped then I guess you need a new engine? Can't skim the head again I think because there didn't seem to be much spare last time!!

I torqued the bolts as in Haynes BOL, but I don't have a proper torque wrench just one of those bendy ones. I thought I'd done it all by the book!!!

I changed mine a while back and it did that in the same place.

And I've been using it since like that and its been fine. It's not like its loads leaking out or anything.

I changed mine a while back and it did that in the same place.

And I've been using it since like that and its been fine. It's not like its loads leaking out or anything.

Oh really? You fill me with hope, Goose!!!!

Don't think I will scrap it. Just frustrating when you get one fault after another. I sent one Polo to the scrapper - couldn't bear to do that again!

Depends how much you care about the car/engine.

for £30 is it really worth the hassle?