Head gasket?

[Lukefx]

Hi all. Help!
My 2016 150 blue motion died today on the driveway after a battery change. I put the old battery on and started it and white smoke filled the road from the exhaust. Also coolant seems to be dissappearing even with the engine not running. Would this be the head gasket or is there something else that could be wrong?
It's only done 37k and I bought it from the local main dealer 2 years ago so it's way out of warranty.
Any thoughts or help would be greatly appreciated please.

 

[DXX]

Sounds like either head gasket or very bad EGR cooler leak.
My advice is to NOT try and start the engine as a cylinder could have coolant in and a hydraulic lock will cause significant damage.
Get it to a mechanic asap with a recovery before corrosion sets in and make sure it has at least two oil and filter changes after rebuild.

 

[Dellmassive]

EGR cooler?
Charge Air Cooler?

Head Gasket is possible.

but as above best get a Mechanic round to check it out. ( a mobile VAG guy might be worth a shot )

...

whats your location?

 

[Lukefx]

EGR cooler?
Charge Air Cooler?

Head Gasket is possible.

but as above best get a Mechanic round to check it out. ( a mobile VAG guy might be worth a shot )

...

whats your location?

Camberley. I phoned one mechanic that I know but he doesn't do head gaskets on the driveway. Is there anyone on here near me maybe?

 

[Lukefx]

EGR cooler?
Charge Air Cooler?

Head Gasket is possible.

but as above best get a Mechanic round to check it out. ( a mobile VAG guy might be worth a shot )

...

whats your location?

So you mention the egr, I had the egr flushed and cleaned on Thursday, is the chemical cleaner they useikely to cause a leak? Maybe it corroded a gasket, is that a thing? It is strange how it happened the day after an egr flush when it's always been absolutely fine.

 

[Dellmassive]

what engine you got?

the EGR cooler is water cooled. . .

so any issue/leak inside the EGR will allow coolant to be ingested into the engine . ( symptoms would be similar to head gasket, ie white smoke from exhaust and loosing coolant internally.)

so its possible that the EGR is the issue and not the Head gasket.


a mechanic could possibly shut off the coolant supply to the EGR for a quick test? to see if the leak is stopped?

...........


headgasket would be the last thing id be looking at, all the mentioned above are more probable.

 

[Bigsidavies]

When VW flushed my egr it started with a gasket leak immediately afterwards. Nothing to do with the flush according to VW. If you believe that you’ll believe anything.

 

[DXX]

I phoned one mechanic that I know but he doesn't do head gaskets on the driveway.

Not surprising, IMO don’t strip an engine on the driveway, never a good idea.
I suggested getting a recovery.
The longer the delay the more risk of corrosion, further unseen damage to bores and rings and all of the reliability / £ issues that go with it.

 

[Lukefx]

what engine you got?

the EGR cooler is water cooled. . .

so any issue/leak inside the EGR will allow coolant to be ingested into the engine . ( symptoms would be similar to head gasket, ie white smoke from exhaust and loosing coolant internally.)

so its possible that the EGR is the issue and not the Head gasket.


a mechanic could possibly shut off the coolant supply to the EGR for a quick test? to see if the leak is stopped?

...........


headgasket would be the last thing id be looking at, all the mentioned above are more probable.

It's a 2016 2.0 150 BMT. Only 37k so head gasket is unlikely I would have thought.

 

[Lukefx]

When VW flushed my egr it started with a gasket leak immediately afterwards. Nothing to do with the flush according to VW. If you believe that you’ll believe anything.

Was it the same symptoms? Non starting and when it does idles lumpy and white smoke and losing water?

 

[DXX]

The ’white smoke’ is mainly steam, don’t keep topping up the coolant otherwise you maybe just filling the cylinders with liquid depending on how bad the leak is.

 

[Lukefx]

The ’white smoke’ is mainly steam, don’t keep topping up the coolant otherwise you maybe just filling the cylinders with liquid depending on how bad the leak is.

Good point, I'm just going to leave it alone until someone can come and have a look. Thanks.

 

[Bigsidavies]

Was it the same symptoms? Non starting and when it does idles lumpy and white smoke and losing water?

No, luckily mine was external, a small amount of coolant seeping from the bottom of the cooler/valve gasket interface.

 

[Lukefx]

Today I had the egr removed and tested and it's leaking coolant into the exhaust gas chamber. This then deposited coolant all in the cylinders and compression is low on 3 cylinders. I was hoping compression would be good but it's not so it's cylinder head off tomorrow and check the valves. And hopefully no bent con-rods. Unfortunately it seems that turning the engine over not knowing the problem may have caused the valve damage, I feel a bit stupid but as it just seemed like a flat battery, and I had just changed the battery, I just thought maybe they'd supplied a dud and tried again. I suppose the thing is though this would have happened some time very soon anyway and we're booked to go to Scotland in May and that would have been one horrible trip! Can anyone think of anything to check while it's all in bits? And what are thoughts on getting any good-will from VW considering this is a known problem?

 

[DXX]

Sounds like either head gasket or very bad EGR cooler leak.
My advice is to NOT try and start the engine as a cylinder could have coolant in and a hydraulic lock will cause significant damage.
Get it to a mechanic asap with a recovery before corrosion sets in and make sure it has at least two oil and filter changes after rebuild.

Unlikely to be valve damage, more likely bent connecting rod and a cocked piston.
Don’t get your hopes up with VW support.

 

[Samro]

Unlikely to be valve damage, more likely bent connecting rod and a cocked piston.
Don’t get your hopes up with VW support.

As a matter of interest (if you have children), how old were they when you broke the news about Santa?

 

[DXX]

As a matter of interest (if you have children), how old were they when you broke the news about Santa?

Santa who?

 

[Lukefx]

It was a bent con rod in the end after the egr cooler cracked internally leaking coolant into the block. A new engine from TPS is £4500 with injectors and glow plugs and a 12 month warranty. £7k all fitted. Very expensive but what can you do?!

 

[DXX]

I can’t see why it needed a new engine. One connecting rod bent or even all four doesn't require a new engine.

 

[dandan88]

As a matter of interest (if you have children), how old were they when you broke the news about Santa?

What that ment to mean?