2 Blown headgasksets in 1 year, STOCK DSM

[Arrow_Runner]

Wife was driving the TSi home from work yesterday and smoke started pouring from the car. She pulled over and when I got there there was a huge puddle of oil under the car. (Blown head gasket)

This is the second hg to blown within a year on the car and it is STOCK, the only thing done to it was a PnP to the head by a local guy last year after the first HG went (warranty then).

1. I didn't think stock dsms were prone to blowing headgaskets like this, any thoughts? The shop that replaced the first one said that the head bolts were loose on the side leaking oil. WTF causes that? Thermal expansion, sonic vibration and an alignment of the planets?

2. I found oil in the intake pipe, I suppose the blown hg could have let oil go into the combustion chamber/exhaust and the turbo pushed it back into the intake. Anyone agree w/ my theory?

BTW, I'm going to try to do the HG replacement this time around since the warranty ran out 3 weeks ago...

Also, would it be wise to have the head milled again for flatness?

I believe they milled it .005" last time. Would requesting more for higher compression be a bad idea on stock everything?

 

[VicBoost]

Hmmm what are some of sympton of a blown headgasket?

 

[absolute_DSM]

Why would you want higher compression on your car?

And what Vic said, what says its the head gasket?

 

[Arrow_Runner]

Oil pouring from the front passenger corner of the headgasket area both times.

The first time it happened it wasn't as crazy, I just started the car after a T-belt replacement and noticed oil leaking.

This time it happened on the highway so there was oil everywhere and even some coolant on top of some stuff. It was a little over a quart low and it's leaking from the same exact spot as before.

I got the intake manifold off and the exhaust mani unbolted from the head, so I should be ready to pull the head off tomorrow if the rain stays away.

 

[Arrow_Runner]

It's definitely coming from the HG. I watched it start leak after I had it towed home and filled it back up with oil.

Also, the shop verified it was the HG the first time b/c there was coolant was leaking into the oil.


Higher comp would mean better off-boost throttle response and a little more power in boost, of course I have nothing to tune w/, so yeah, it may not be the best idea. The car is mainly just a DD and may eventually see some on and off track time.

 

[silver bullit]

Your head or block is warped take em out and mill them down if they can be saved if not time for new motor.

 

[Arrow_Runner]

Your head or block is warped take em out and mill them down if they can be saved if not time for new motor.

 

[luvmygst]

You did replace the head bolts right? When you do it this time use ARP studs.

 

[GSTeclipse]

Have you even rechecked the tightness of the headstuds ?

Did you have them re TQ the headstuds since the headgasket was replaced ?

Are ARP's used this time or did you replace the old ones with New stock ones?

sounds like somone is not doing somthing right

 

[Arrow_Runner]

You did replace the head bolts right? When you do it this time use ARP studs.

I don't have the head off yet, the bolts are the only thing left.

Have you even rechecked the tightness of the headstuds ?

Did you have them re TQ the headstuds since the headgasket was replaced ?

Nope, but I'll check it before I take the head off today.

Note: I didn't do these things yesterday because I need to buy a better TQ wrench and the socket the studs use.

 

[Turboeagletalon]

what did you torque the studs two. the factory torque is not high enough. get arp head studs and go to 100 -100 ft pounds

 

[Arrow_Runner]

I had a shop replace the HG last time.

Where's a good place to get ARP studs, and 100 - 100 ft pounds??

 

[GSTeclipse]

I had a shop replace the HG last time.

Where's a good place to get ARP studs, and 100 - 100 ft pounds??

I wouldn't have pulled anything off just yet ....I would have checked the TQ on the headstuds to see if they might have backed them selves out enough to lift the head ...and if you do check them makes sure you do it in the right order when you tighten them !


A good place for head studs ....heres a link http://www.maperformance.com/store/product.php?productid=16175&cat=0&page=1

 

[JayRolla]

Did you make sure you blew all the material that could have gotten into the headstud bolts out?? If there is anything in those holes like oil, or water it will give you wrong readings on your torque wrench.

Also like they mentioned could be stretched studs, or warped block/head. If you didnt clean the head stud bolt holes out then I bet thats your problem.

 

[Arrow_Runner]

A shop did all the work last time. This time I'll make sure to clean out the holes.

And thanks for the link! Do they come with instructions by any chance? Especially tq settings and stuff. The link just shows a pic of the studs. Don't they come with nuts too? I've never dealt with arp stuff before.

EDIT: The head is off now, btw. I may post pics later. The HG looked fine and, just as last time, atleast one head bolt seemed "loose". I think it came off somewhere around 40 ft-lbs. The loose bolt was the one nearest to the oil leak.

 

[GSTeclipse]

the ARP's will come with everything needed ....

 

[black91awdturbo]

if it was that loose I would have put back in spec and retested it you may have done all that work for nothing. Make sure though since its off to clean all the stud holes and have the head checked to see if its warped.

 

[Arrow_Runner]

I'm aware that I may have been able to just retighten the head bolts, but I didn't want to take the chance the the head gasket would have been damaged due to excessive heat. Oh well, life goes on.

 

[Arrow_Runner]

Two more things:

1.
I may or may not have scratched one of the pistons during this whole process, but I think I just scraped the carbon off of it because I can't feel the mark with my finger nail. Is there a good (safe) way to clean off the top of the piston so I can see if there is a mark or not?

2.
I'm going to need a new gasket that connects the ex manifold to the downpipe(?). Is that just called the exhaust manifold/downpipe gasket?

 

[dsm-onster]

Don't worry about a minor scrape like that. I've run my pistons to 30 psi w/ big cams and a high revlimit w/ dents in them from jumped timing (valves slapped pistons pretty bad).

There's a turbo inbetween your exhaust manifold and downpipe. So which gasket do you mean? the exhaust manifold to head gasket, the exhaust manifold to turbo gasket, the turbo to o2 housing gasket, or the o2 housing to downpipe gasket?

 

[Arrow_Runner]

Don't worry about a minor scrape like that. I've run my pistons to 30 psi w/ big cams and a high revlimit w/ dents in them from jumped timing (valves slapped pistons pretty bad).

There's a turbo inbetween your exhaust manifold and downpipe. So which gasket do you mean? the exhaust manifold to head gasket, the exhaust manifold to turbo gasket, the turbo to o2 housing gasket, or the o2 housing to downpipe gasket?

Lol. It's not the head to ex man gasket. It has about a 2-3" hole and two bolt holes, made of some metallic material, is in between SOMETHING and a curved pipe. It was right at the spot where one or two oil lines are attached to the block if that helps.

Anyone got a diagram? I'm in Denver CO right now so I'm just going by memory.

 

[TSIMonsteR]

You do know what a turbo looks like, right? , just playin man. I think you are looking for the o2 housing to downpipe gasket. You can get them from any local auto store. Most places call them "Exhaust Flange Gaskets". This should work

 

[Arrow_Runner]

You do know what Turbo looks like, right?

Uh, yeah. The one on the right. This is of course a "fake" Turbo.

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

 

[dsm-onster]

Funny sh!t. Makes me feel better even though I burned up my big a$$ 60-1 turbo w/in the last hour .

Yea, you're probably looking for the o2 housing to downpipe gasket. I'm not even running one. But that doesn't mean that you shouldn't. Just letting you know that I've been able to get away w/ out having to install one. If you do have one installed and it is leaking then you're better off taking it out and running w/out one until you get it replaced. You MAY find that having one is inconsequential to your inspections.

 

[Arrow_Runner]

I'll just pick one up and put it on. Thanks for the help fellas.

BTW, a 60-1 scale Turbo would be HUGE!