Hey folks, am after some advice. i think the cylinder head may be on its way out.

I drive a 1.4 Polo Cl and serviced it at the weekend. I drained the coolant and filled it up with new stuff. Checked it today and its now below the min level and I've got mayonase under the filler cap (it had this before I serviced it).

I could possibly put the low coolant level down to the fact that I didn't double check the level after I filled the coolant up after servicing, however i'm not convinced.

The car doesn't over heat at all or blow white smoke out the back.

Is there any checks I can do to verify if it is or isn't the head?

If it is how easy is it to change yourslef? I'm guessing it is a big job for a garage to do?

Help i'm starting to panic!

Iain

First of all its more likely to be the head gasket not the entire cylinder head.

I'd do a compression test first, the results of that will let you know if its the head gasket or not.

If you are mechanically minded, have the right tools, the haynes manual and a mate or 2 to help the head gasket shouldn't take more than a few hours.

hummm my gt did the same but was the head gasket... £28 for autofactors!

i've never really done ne mech work before but just went for it whats the worse that can happen! aslong as everything goes back where it was (and tight enough) it'l be fine and a good lesson on how you are engine works!

only thing is i'd expect the zorst to blowin white smoke especially if its losin that much coolant! if you check for leaks round all the coolant pipes to eliminate that also have a quick gander at the side of the block looking for rust like marks down it where the coolant may be leaking down the side....

i did my first heasdgasket on my mk3 the other day.

get a haynes for a backup quidance and torque setting for headbolts, take it slow, make sure youve got every tool you need before you start

its a days job to be safe

First of all its more likely to be the head gasket not the entire cylinder head.

Sorry thats what I meant.

hummm my gt did the same but was the head gasket... £28 for autofactors!

i've never really done ne mech work before but just went for it whats the worse that can happen! aslong as everything goes back where it was (and tight enough) it'l be fine and a good lesson on how you are engine works!

only thing is i'd expect the zorst to blowin white smoke especially if its losin that much coolant! if you check for leaks round all the coolant pipes to eliminate that also have a quick gander at the side of the block looking for rust like marks down it where the coolant may be leaking down the side....

Yean not blowing any white smoke and no obvious leaks. I'm going to top her up tonight and monitor the situation by day. Also it has been suggested that I take the car out for a half hour to hour long drive as most of my journeys are only 10 to 15 minutes long which may not be helping the situation.

Iain

It maywell be the short journey times causing condensation therefore small amounts of mayo looking substance in the top of the head .

Take it for a nice drive down the motorway to warm it up fully mate and see how it goes .

First of all its more likely to be the head gasket not the entire cylinder head.

Sorry thats what I meant.

hummm my gt did the same but was the head gasket... £28 for autofactors!

i've never really done ne mech work before but just went for it whats the worse that can happen! aslong as everything goes back where it was (and tight enough) it'l be fine and a good lesson on how you are engine works!

only thing is i'd expect the zorst to blowin white smoke especially if its losin that much coolant! if you check for leaks round all the coolant pipes to eliminate that also have a quick gander at the side of the block looking for rust like marks down it where the coolant may be leaking down the side....

Yean not blowing any white smoke and no obvious leaks. I'm going to top her up tonight and monitor the situation by day. Also it has been suggested that I take the car out for a half hour to hour long drive as most of my journeys are only 10 to 15 minutes long which may not be helping the situation.

Iain

Yea but if it is your head gasket, you wouldnt want to go on a 1hour drive and have you car overheating 1hour away drive from home!

I would do a compression test 1st matey!

so from these posts i'd say have the compression tested and if it is letting off compression, get the head off as long as its not over heated you shouldnt need the head skimming but depending on whether the combustion chamber is in the head or the top of the pistons u could get the head skimmed a little (if its in the head) and boost your compression ratio... i.e bit more power!

bringing a bit of good from the bad!!!!

like johnb said get a haynes manual n follow that i did it with out but got the head bolt torque settings off a local garage... some one on here will have them if you dont have access to them.... its a really easy job to do just make sure u mark up you are timing belt to your top and bottom pulley.... pretty much the only place you can go wrong!