Coolant gone. . . but to where. . .

[zero97tsi]

Hey, obviously new here, and Ive run into my first real problem since getting my Tsi about 2 weeks ago.

After changing the oil me and a friend went to get some food and when we got to Subway (eat fresh) I noticed my temp gauge was maxed out. so I got it home, and heard the sound of boiling water in the overflow tank but it wasnt boiling water, it was outrageously hot air blowing into the water that was in the tank.

So I checked the oil, still clear, still just oil. there was no coolant to check so I filled the coolant system, ran it watched it, cant see any brown or filth of any kind. however the system is getting air in it, a tiny bit. At the mouth where the cap goes air flow out of the tube, from the engine side, not the rad side.

So with clean oil, clean coolant, the only descision ive come to is that my coolant is just leaving.

Im gonna try a compression check, but like I said the oil and the water stay clear as crystal so unless my engine runs cleaner than a surgery room, I cant see it being the HG.

Any ideas?

 

[ZmanIV]

Dont forget a new water pump and balance shaft belts (if they are still there)
Dont want to have to do the work twice.

 

[LaN-]

Just eliminate the balance shafts, they just cause more problems down the road anyway.

 

[ZmanIV]

Yea have fun removing them from the car while the motor is still in.
You cannot just remove the BS belts, the shafts need to be removed as well and the oil holes need to be plugged up as well.

 

[zero97tsi]

yea screw that, Im not going to take them out. The engine has like 157k on it but was rebuilt at 125ish. Timing belt is brand new along with all the other rest. For now Im just going to focus on the problem at hand and not dive into a bunch of other side projects. Im having enough fun doing this.

 

[ZmanIV]

Did you mark the belt direction before you took them off?

 

[LaN-]

You don't have to take out both shafts to do the removal. The front one can stay in.

I did it all with my engine in the car. I know a lot of people that have done it with no problems.

 

[zero97tsi]

Did you mark the belt direction before you took them off?

Absolutely

LaN-, is there a vfaq or anything on removing the balance shafts and plugging the holes? As long as it wont cause me too much problem Id be willing to do it. But like I say Im a newbie to this stuff and if its going to be something that should be done by someone slightly more advanced with these engines Ill leave it for now

 

[zero97tsi]

Nevermind LaN-, I found it... Im dumb...

 

[zero97tsi]

I got the head off... no blown headgasket... for the most part. Pretty damn clean other than its soaked. Im going to go ahead and assume the soaking of the head contact area didnt happen while taking it apart since the coolant had been missing for a few days before that, and Ive been running water in it for the last week trying to figure this problem out. the liquid that the block surface is coated in is decidedly green.

Is that something that can happen or has happened to anyone else? the gasket not looking blown but somehow leaking?

So Ill clean it off and get me a gasket and some ARP studs.

Are the cometic gaskets the ones I want? the 3 layer ones.

Yikes I am not looking forward to putting the thing back together... but if this was the problem Ill be the happiest person in upper minnesota.

 

[ZmanIV]

Yea a cometic is a good one.
Head gaskets can also let go between the layers.
When you install the HG make sure that all the parts are really clean. Block cleaned with razorblades to remove all the old gasket, then brake cleaner to remove any residual oil.
I even did a clean wipe on the head surface to make sure that there is not anything on it.
Do not use any of those gasket prep or tack products with a cometic.

 

[ZmanIV]

Also regarding the head studs, use all the molly lube that comes with the studs, place the head onto the block first, place the washers into the head, then install the studs. Do not use locktite on the studs.

 

[LaN-]

i'd get a real multi layer mitsu head gasket. the cometic is good, but it works best with a decked head and block.

http://machv.com/mitmethead.html

thats what i run, same for everyone i know, no issues.

 

[ZmanIV]

You should get the head decked first to make sure it isn't warped.

 

[LaN-]

You should get the head decked first to make sure it isn't warped.

agreed. but unless you get both surfaces decked i wouldn't get the cometic gasket.

 

[ZmanIV]

The cast iron block will not warp like the alloy head will.