1.8T engine cured!!

[kaiser]

My wife's 1.8T has been running poorly, lately. It started misfiring and loosing power. At the same time, we noticed a loss of water of about 100ml per day, I check the coolant level daily.

I started by taking the spark plugs out and cleaning them. This made the stuttering worse, to the extent that the yellow engine light would come on under acceleration. Biting the bullet and purchasing 4 (expensive) new plugs did the trick. The car pulls like a locomotive again and, when you compare a new to an old plug, it becomes quite obvious, that the old plugs are very worn.

After the spirited test drive, I checked oil and water, and noticed water under the oil filler cap. I realized why we could not find the outside water leak. Water was getting into the oil! The next day, it was also visible on the dip stick, the oil looking like milky coffee in colour.
Owing to my continuous water checks, I know the car has never run with too little water and has never overheated. There was also no excessive pressure in the cooling system, and no oil in the water.
Prime suspect, a loose liner.

After some soul searching and thinking back and forth, I purchased a bottle of Wondarweld, followed the instructions and added it to the cooling system.
I took the car for a 80 km drive and checked after it had cooled down.

Water level was constant, oil had returned to normal, not one drop of moisture under the oil filler cap!!!!!
Today, after 3 days of driving, I drained, flushed and refilled.

The verdict is a 100 percent success! so far!

I have had an interesting e-mail by a forum member asking, if such sealant should be added as a permanent feature, and at the moment i would tend to say yes, if it is a fluid that will only harden at elevated temperatures, I think it might be extremely useful to have as a permanent feature in the system, provide that anti corrosion and other parameters are not compromised.
The Wondarweld is to be left in the system for 3 days max according to instructions, but I think that your K-seal (which I don't know down here) might be the answer for leaving in the system.


In retrospect, I think we are getting to the point where we can keep the 1.8 engine reliable.
1. Replace, improve all suspect parts in the cooling system (plastic bits, water pump, seals for inlet manifold)
2. Monitor the engine water temperature with aftermarket device or computer, don't rely on on-board gauge.
3. If possible, install a water level sensor.
4. Check water level daily.
5 At first sign of water under oil filler cap, add Wondarweld (or, maybe K-seal)
6. Check with the manufacturer of K-seal and see if it can be added and left in the system.

A headgasket failure on these engines, I maintain, is only likely as a result of overheating, which is likely to occur as a result of loss of water externally OR internally.
I might just add, that in retrospect, my problems with my V6 some while back, strongly resembles this problem. In those days we took the engine to pieces, but could not find a mark on the headgasket. When we assembled the unit, the problem persisted. After another two engine rebuilds, where we eventually used Lock-tite to secure the sleeves, the engine was cured.

Just to stress, I have no interest in any of the products mentioned, and this information is just a reflection of what I have personally experienced. I find the results consistent with what you can expect, and I can see good reason for the results experienced. I am not saying that the product would work if serious damage has been done, and I stress that I am talking about a leak past a liner, not a head gasket failure.
I would also like to add that I expect these engines to have these failures as a result of their construction. IOW you will encounter this sooner or later.
If the addition of K-seal or Wondarweld is possible as a permanent feature, I would suggest that it be done.
Would someone be interested in checking this with the manufacturers? I would be very interested!
If I have a failure, I will let you know!