34 replies to this topic

[Sutol]

this happened to me and the dealer held their hands up to it. They replaced it with a Vxl refurbished head so i hope this isn't going to be 'shagged' as Thorney has said I told them to lube the threads when they installed the plugs. Correct me if i'm wrong but the plugs are in for 40k miles on the scheduled service. so whats that 4 years?? My car was a low miler and previous service garage took the attitude that the plugs had plenty of life left in them so didn't change the plugs in 6 years until i got hold of it. I will change the plugs every year from now on but if you don't i think i would advise loosening off and then tightening up on say an annual basis. But take it easy especially on no4. Mine went on no4 wonder why. Would like more info on used heads being shagged Thorney. were the one you tested VXL ones?

[EdButler]

So it turnes out that the VX specialist near is booked up for almost a month for such a job... Im therefore getting a little desparate as its my daily driver! Does anyone have ANY experience using the coolant based sealants like K-Seal. A work colleague recommended it to me as a measure (apparrently sealed a K-Series Head for over a year and still going) but id be somewhat paranoid about flushing the system afterwards. It also seems a Pikey mod tbh but any feedback is welcome!

[gazcaddy]

So it turnes out that the VX specialist near is booked up for almost a month for such a job... Im therefore getting a little desparate as its my daily driver!

Does anyone have ANY experience using the coolant based sealants like K-Seal. A work colleague recommended it to me as a measure (apparrently sealed a K-Series Head for over a year and still going) but id be somewhat paranoid about flushing the system afterwards. It also seems a Pikey mod tbh but any feedback is welcome!

Have you tried the VX220 Specialist in Sheffield? Its on saville street http://www.vauxhall....mitDealerSearch

I booked my car in today and it is booked in for 3/8.

[snoopstah]

Jeez, sorry to hear this. Hopefully just a few 'growing pains' - I remember when I got mine I had a bunch of problems in the first couple of months, and after that it was absolutely spot-on. Have you had any luck seeing if the garage that bust it will foot the bill? If not, maybe they can at least organise a low-loader to get it down to TMS/Courtenay. Although as said, a head replacement isn't VX-specific or particularly tricky, so if you can get a recommendation for a garage that is well-rated locally, they should be able to do it - I have no qualms about taking mine to a nearby garage for a lot of maintenance work because I know that, even though it's the only VX they've seen, they take care of it.

Edited by snoopstah, 23 July 2007 - 07:29 PM.

[cheeky_chops]

So it turnes out that the VX specialist near is booked up for almost a month for such a job... Im therefore getting a little desparate as its my daily driver!

Does anyone have ANY experience using the coolant based sealants like K-Seal. A work colleague recommended it to me as a measure (apparrently sealed a K-Series Head for over a year and still going) but id be somewhat paranoid about flushing the system afterwards. It also seems a Pikey mod tbh but any feedback is welcome!

Ed - yep, been driving my rover 214 for 2 years and 26000 miles with k-seal! 1st day i bought it, water all gone No mayo though. Dumped some K-seal in and it now rarely uses any water. Lots of people on the rover forums said "dont, it will block the waterways!" - never had a problem.

Oh, did have a problem - had a full service with coolant change. Couple of weeks later it started over heating, got towed home and wacked some more k-seal in and its fine again (that was easter and I do 400 miles a week in it) I really thought it was bye bye shed! I also read about a guy who bought a totally dead rover 216 - mayo in water and oil etc. Changed the fluids chuck some k-seal in and he ragged the nuts off it! No return of mayo!

Give it a go, sounds like you have nothing to loose atm. Good luck

Edited by cheeky_chops, 23 July 2007 - 08:21 PM.

[wmg100]

So it turnes out that the VX specialist near is booked up for almost a month for such a job... Im therefore getting a little desparate as its my daily driver!

Does anyone have ANY experience using the coolant based sealants like K-Seal. A work colleague recommended it to me as a measure (apparrently sealed a K-Series Head for over a year and still going) but id be somewhat paranoid about flushing the system afterwards. It also seems a Pikey mod tbh but any feedback is welcome!

Ed - yep, been driving my rover 214 for 2 years and 26000 miles with k-seal! 1st day i bought it, water all gone No mayo though. Dumped some K-seal in and it now rarely uses any water. Lots of people on the rover forums said "dont, it will block the waterways!" - never had a problem.

Oh, did have a problem - had a full service with coolant change. Couple of weeks later it started over heating, got towed home and wacked some more k-seal in and its fine again (that was easter and I do 400 miles a week in it) I really thought it was bye bye shed! I also read about a guy who bought a totally dead rover 216 - mayo in water and oil etc. Changed the fluids chuck some k-seal in and he ragged the nuts off it! No return of mayo!

Give it a go, sounds like you have nothing to loose atm. Good luck

Seems to have stopped overheating/coolant use in my wife's Fiesta

[EdButler]

Ahh excellent, i thought the replies went a little dry due to peoples disgust of K-Seal but maybe its worth a try if the warranty doesnt work out... Will be giving them a call this week sometime so ill keep peoples informed! Big Cams, CNC/Flowed Head, Valve Springs etc etc on standby

[cheeky_chops]

people get a little funny about adding this stuff as they dont understand what it does, how it does it and what it contains. Check out their website

http://www.kalimex.c...=01.04.&pgid=17

[luna_s]

i bunged a load of radweld into my old shed, fixed the leak from the thermostat housing fine (saved me a few hours work )

[lotusfan]

Well after moving from 4 happy trouble free, VAG abusing years, 7 days in the VX and its Dead! To cut a long story short, I decided to get it fully serviced at a garage (VAG admittedly) I know and trust as the car was on around 38k and was due a fresh slate. Spark plugs came out ok. Spark plugs 1-3 went in ok, however Plug No4's tightening cracked the head just above the thread. Cue a coolant leak in the plug barrel and about 500ml of lost coolant in one minute! After some research I’ve seen this problem has been mentioned a few times on here and other forums, however it is by no means common considering how ubiquitous this engine really is. Does anyone know if this part of the engine is particularly thin, as it always seems to happen on Plug #4. Thankfully I recently bought a 3rd party warranty for the car, which was so recent I haven’t yet got the policy details through yet! With the head being such a large job both I and the VAG garage think that a VX specialist/dealer should do the work. I have a so called “VXR Specialist†on Ecclesall Road, Sheffield nearby; would this be a good option bearing in mind my car isn’t drivable!? And no i hadnt got round to breakdown cover yet... I actually feel physically sick thinking about this so if anyone has any advice of where to go and what to do (with the warranty co maybe?) that would appreciated. I was thinking of getting the Cam Chain done in the process and perhaps thinking of getting the Cams re-profiled… Please help! Ed

 

Can you tell me which one is Plug #4? The one at the right side or at the left side?

[siztenboots]

plug 4 nearest gearbox , plug 1 is normally at the cambelt / chain end , same as alternator , and other belt driven parts. aka the FEAD front end accessory drive

[vocky]

if your spark plug has been over-tightened then the cylinder head is scrap, whilst it's apart replace both timing chains

[siztenboots]

bearing in mind this post is from 2007 

[Wolfstone]

I guess lotusfan has suffered the same problem though and was searching for posts relating to this.

[ghand]

I guess lotusfan has suffered the same problem though and was searching for posts relating to this.

Wonder how many get caught out by old posts ?

I never ever have honest.

Should come up with a red title or flashing lights