Possible Head Gasket / Cracked Head Problem?

[Wabby]

Hi Guys,

I have a 2004 A3 2.0 TDI (BKD) engine with a suspected coolant related fault.

The car is difficult to start when its been left over night, and seems to be loosing a header tank amount of coolant every 2 months or so. Now I read that this could be head gasket for the head being porous/cracked?

I have checked the code on the head and its suffixed with 'B' not 'A' like most of the faulty heads, although I do read in some places that some 'B' heads were also faulty.

Is there any checks, other than whipping the head off that will confirm if its gasket or the head itself?

Would K-Seal have any affect on either of the two outcomes?

Other than the difficulty to star when its been left, the car is fine. Runs ok, idles ok etc etc.

Cheers for any help guys

 

[mike foster]

Sorry to hear you have the problem. If it was a head gasket the temperature gauge would be off the clock whilst running due to the coolant being superheated by the cylinders. As the car is running normally I'm afraid it looks like a porous head.

K-seal is always worth a try at £7 a bottle and will certainly help albeit not cure the problem.

Yours is a very early 'B' suffix head so unfortunately it looks like you've been unlucky.

 

[bluequattro]

Check the dipstick for mayo like substance m8, if waters
Mixing through the oil you will see it on dipstick hth

Cal

 

[asasprey]

K-seal ftw!!

 

[Wabby]

Cheers for the replies guys.

The coolant is definitely not leaking into the oil, and its not using any oil. A friend noticed the coolant usage whilst changing a ECT for me, and this led to a theory of it leaking into the cylinder(s) causing difficult starting; A quick Google later and it appears that I am not alone!

Will chuck some K-Seal in tomorrow and see how it goes. Hopefully it will start to start normally when cold, which is the only issue the vehicle has at the moment.

 

[mike foster]

K-seal ftw!!

Sorry asasprey - due to being a pensioner I'm not familiar with ftw! (seriously)

I know WTF etc. etc. but please give me a clue.

As far as K-seal is concerned it sorted my 2006 BKD and I no longer top-up coolant at 77k.

 

[Wabby]

FTW = For The Win

K-Seal is getting good reviews regarding the issue, so I should be able to post back soon with news of easy(er) cold starts

 

[mike foster]

Thanks Wabby - I couldn't get my old head round that one !!

Just make sure you follow the instructions and give it time to flow through the system. I contacted the manufacturer before I used it just to check out the theory and they confirmed that, although it was designed to plug leaks, the way it works is ideal for the 'porous head' problem and could only help the situation.

Hope it helps you. Cheers

 

[asasprey]

Sorry asasprey - due to being a pensioner I'm not familiar with ftw! (seriously)

I know WTF etc. etc. but please give me a clue.

As far as K-seal is concerned it sorted my 2006 BKD and I no longer top-up coolant at 77k.

You crazy old people! Lol

 

[devonmikeyboy]

You could try this stuff. I know nothing about it and never used it.http://www.steelseal.co.uk/
It`s cheaper on ebay if you want to buy it.eBay - The UK's Online Marketplace

 

[Wabby]

I chucked some K-Seal in the expansion bottle, and so far its starting to work.

This morning it started after 2 seconds on the start motor - normally takes 8-10 seconds; so its starting to do its job.

From what I read I need to give it a good few days to resolve the issue as it has to get from the expansion tank to the cylinder which will take as long as the coolant takes to seep into the cylinders?

Good results so far anyhow - will report back soon

 

[Simon16]

I chucked some K-Seal in the expansion bottle, and so far its starting to work.

This morning it started after 2 seconds on the start motor - normally takes 8-10 seconds; so its starting to do its job.

From what I read I need to give it a good few days to resolve the issue as it has to get from the expansion tank to the cylinder which will take as long as the coolant takes to seep into the cylinders?

Good results so far anyhow - will report back soon

Hi Mate, I have had this exact problem with my 2004 BKD 2.0 sport, i used K seal and it really helped and I dont get any water mixing with the oil but I am topping coolant up every few days and now it is struggling to start from overnight as there must be water getting in the cylinders again, I am going to have to bite the bullet and get a new head at some point but I know it will cost me well over a grand, let us know how you get on though!

 

[devonmikeyboy]

Below is a picture of a head i removed which shows the usual place the head cracks. If your having starting problems with water getting into the cylinders your screwed as K Seal will not stick the high pressure in the head and just blow out.

 

[Graham89]

I used K-Seal for my BKD coolant loss issue, I was loosing around a bottle every 2 weeks and it would struggle/miss fire when starting first thing in the morning. Now starts and runs fine. 20k miles and a year later its worked. Not topped up once since i used it so for now it's sorted. It may not be a permanent method but it sure gets some more pennies worth out of the 'dodgy head'. Good luck.

 

[MTW]

im getting the same problem exactly, where abouts can i get k-seal from?

 

[mike foster]

Halfords, Motosave or any decent car accessory outlet. Approx £7

 

[MTW]

ah ok, cheers mate

 

[dex140]

Copuld it possibly be your radiator? Mine went two months ago...maybe worth getting the cooling system pressure tested?

 

[Wabby]

Does anybody on here sell recon heads for these BKD engines?

K-Seal doesnt seem to have had an effect.

 

[mike foster]

Check out 'devonmikeyboy' on here but first you have to give k-seal a few days to work.

 

[Wabby]

Its been in now for 4 days. The morning after I put it in it started very well, but since its gone back to how it was.
For the sake of another £10 I will try another bottle of the stuff - but after that its going to have to get sorted. Its doing my ****** head in! lol

 

[mike foster]

Why don't you PM the guy and see what he has available ? He will help if he can.

Good luck !

Edit: check out post #13 on this thread !!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Wabby]

Ta. Will PM him when I have 15 posts and can PM

 

[mike foster]

Ta. Will PM him when I have 15 posts and can PM

Only one to go then mate ? Answer this and you've cracked it !!!!

 

[WALTO TDI]

i have this coolant loss problem also. however i dont have any start up issues, there is no sign of oil in water or water in oil, and there are no signs of smoke. it is a 2007 bkd engine with the "C" code cylinder head. i have not seen any signs of water under the car any suggestions??

i think im going to get my mechanic to pressure test the coolant system tomorrow.

will this be covered under any kind of manufacturers warranty??

 

[tdi-man]

This is what happened to my head with part number C.

use to loose a little water but the water pump was leaking.

what happends if cracked between glowplugs

Below is a picture of a head i removed which shows the usual place the head cracks. If your having starting problems with water getting into the cylinders your screwed as K Seal will not stick the high pressure in the head and just blow out.