1.6 FSI Head Gasket

[caprighia22]

Hi All. Potential (future) new owner here. Ideally looking for a 1.4 petrol but am considering a 1.6 ,FSI but read a few buyers guides and posts on here about HG failure. How common is this? Is it linked to mileage or overheating due to coolant loss or are they just a poor design?
Thanks

 

[Charles]

Hi All. Potential (future) new owner here. Ideally looking for a 1.4 petrol but am considering a 1.6 ,FSI but read a few buyers guides and posts on here about HG failure. How common is this? Is it linked to mileage or overheating due to coolant loss or are they just a poor design?
Thanks

Coolant loss from age, normally the death pipe and then people drive them even with the warnings on the dash and that kills it. They occasionally go bad like on my tdi 90, but I think that was due to it sitting for a long space of time as the gasket had just corroded from the coolant chanel to the cylinder

 

[caprighia22]

thanks. am I correct in thinking the replacement death pipes are hard to come by?

 

[Charles]

thanks. am I correct in thinking the replacement death pipes are hard to come by?

I don't think so, however I would get a fabricator to make a stainless steel on and then you'll never have to bother with it again, it's due to the higher coolant temp making it fragile as it expands and contracts when heating and cooling more than if it ran at 90, then it eventually cracks. If made of stainless it shouldn't be a problem

 

[tnpali01]

thanks. am I correct in thinking the replacement death pipes are hard to come by?

I dont think so, I have to check mine , but I think its the work involved thats the difficulty

 

[PlasticMac]

Hi All. Potential (future) new owner here. Ideally looking for a 1.4 petrol but am considering a 1.6 ,FSI but read a few buyers guides and posts on here about HG failure. How common is this? Is it linked to mileage or overheating due to coolant loss or are they just a poor design?
Thanks

Have a read of this post.
Mac.

 

[caprighia22]

Have a read of this post.
Mac.

Thanks but I can't get the link to work....

 

[Proghound]

Try this link to the post that Mac was referring to. The whole thread's well worth a read.

 

[PlasticMac]

Try this link to the post that Mac was referring to. The whole thread's well worth a read.

Cheers Ian.
Mac.

 

[caprighia22]

thanks guys

 

[PlasticMac]

A useful VCDS check, when considering buying an FSI, is to look at Group 089, Block 1.
Km driven with EML
Ideally, would be zero ...
Mac.

 

[caprighia22]

apparently the EML light has come on a few times but goes out and stays off for a while. Codes not read. To be honest as nice as the car looks I am thinking an FSI might be a bit more needy than I am looking for in a daily driver (I have a number of needy cars already that I don't have enough time to work on) so maybe I will keep waiting for a 1.4 petrol to come up. Shame as it did look like a nice one

 

[PlasticMac]

apparently the EML light has come on a few times but goes out and stays off for a while. Codes not read. To be honest as nice as the car looks I am thinking an FSI might be a bit more needy than I am looking for in a daily driver (I have a number of needy cars already that I don't have enough time to work on) so maybe I will keep waiting for a 1.4 petrol to come up. Shame as it did look like a nice one

If you can get it scanned, you'll know how needy it is. Once sorted, other than using 98/99 octane fuel, an FSI is no more needy than any other 20 ish year old car.
Sorting it could be a bit needy though.
Mac.

 

[PlasticMac]

Anyone got a death pipe to hand?
Just wondering what material it's made from. The material code is usually identified on the part, alongside the recycle symbol.
Mac.

 

[Andrew]

Anyone got a death pipe to hand?
Just wondering what material it's made from. The material code is usually identified on the part, alongside the recycle symbol.
Mac.

Good Afternoon Mac,

I would describe it as hard plastic.

This is my £10 budget job off ebay.

There are some codes on this view if you magnify.

A picture with codes from the German club

Andy

 

[PlasticMac]

It's PA66 GF30.
Which us made up of 60% Polyamide 66 (PA66, also known as Nylon 66), and 30% Glass Fibre, (GF).
Maximum short term temperature, 180C, long term 110C. All from Google.
So, it would be wise to replace it every 10 years, I reckon.
Mac

 

[Desmo]

It would be easier to fabricate both ends separately (stainless steel) with rubber hose in between.

 

[PlasticMac]

It would be easier to fabricate both ends separately (stainless steel) with rubber hose in between.

Yes, I'd thought about that approach myself, thought about brass, as it's easier to turn. With the flex section, it'd be easier to fit too, I'd think. I'm not quite up to pursuing it myself, but I'd be in the front of a queue to buy one.
The rubber/silicone section would reduce stress I'd think.
Any one here into machining stainless/brass couplings?
Mac.