MK1 Engine Problems (Noob)

xbx · 07-01-2009, 08:57 PM

I am restoring a mk1 and a couple of days ago i was driving it a short distance. it drove perfectly until i got to the top of my drive when all of a sudden it lost power, wouldnt tick over and the engine had white smoke and made a hissing noise.
the oil levels are fine nothing seems out of the ordinary.
i started it today, it started fine but barely ran and was miss firing.

PLEASE HELP

328FTW · 07-01-2009, 09:06 PM

Did it overheat? ie was the motor really hot

traintech86 · 07-01-2009, 09:23 PM

whats it sound like when you blow the gasket?

palos · 07-01-2009, 11:28 PM

Unfortunately, it sounds as though the engine overheated, probably warped the head and water mixed into the cylinders. Check for signs of water in the oil or oil in the cooling system. The following link describes the usual suspects for engine smoke: Car Engine Smoking | Car Trouble

Don't start the car! If the fluids have mixed, you could seize the engine by running it. I'd recommend performing a compression test and if possible a leak down test to help diagnose the problem.

dirocyn · 07-07-2009, 05:18 PM

Unfortunately, Palos is probably right. White "smoke" is usually steam, you overheated and probably blew out the head gasket. However, a broken coolant hose can make a big cloud of steam and cause your engine to overheat and run rough without necessarily killing your head gasket. Check and see if your coolant is low, it could just be a broken hose.

Check for water in the oil (makes it look like cheez-whiz on the dipstick) and if you find it, you know you'll have to take off the head. Drain your oil immediately, before it causes your engine internals to rust. If there's not water in the oil (or not much) it's safe to turn the engine over for diagnostics. When the head gasket is blown, the exhaust smells sweet like antifreeze, and you'll have poor compression in one or more cylinders.

07-01-2009, 08:57 PM	#1 (permalink)
xbx No Skills Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: North Wales Posts: 1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	MK1 Engine Problems (Noob) I am restoring a mk1 and a couple of days ago i was driving it a short distance. it drove perfectly until i got to the top of my drive when all of a sudden it lost power, wouldnt tick over and the engine had white smoke and made a hissing noise. the oil levels are fine nothing seems out of the ordinary. i started it today, it started fine but barely ran and was miss firing. PLEASE HELP

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07-01-2009, 09:06 PM	#2 (permalink)
328FTW Can you say grippy? Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 1,513 Thanks: 12 Thanked 99 Times in 83 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Did it overheat? ie was the motor really hot

07-01-2009, 09:23 PM	#3 (permalink)
traintech86 Traintech86 on all im's Join Date: May 2009 Location: Norfolk VA Posts: 881 Thanks: 13 Thanked 24 Times in 23 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	whats it sound like when you blow the gasket?

07-01-2009, 11:28 PM	#4 (permalink)
palos … Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 170 Thanks: 0 Thanked 20 Times in 18 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Unfortunately, it sounds as though the engine overheated, probably warped the head and water mixed into the cylinders. Check for signs of water in the oil or oil in the cooling system. The following link describes the usual suspects for engine smoke: Car Engine Smoking \| Car Trouble Don't start the car! If the fluids have mixed, you could seize the engine by running it. I'd recommend performing a compression test and if possible a leak down test to help diagnose the problem.

07-07-2009, 05:18 PM	#5 (permalink)
dirocyn Cage Fighter Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 133 Thanks: 6 Thanked 12 Times in 12 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Unfortunately, Palos is probably right. White "smoke" is usually steam, you overheated and probably blew out the head gasket. However, a broken coolant hose can make a big cloud of steam and cause your engine to overheat and run rough without necessarily killing your head gasket. Check and see if your coolant is low, it could just be a broken hose. Check for water in the oil (makes it look like cheez-whiz on the dipstick) and if you find it, you know you'll have to take off the head. Drain your oil immediately, before it causes your engine internals to rust. If there's not water in the oil (or not much) it's safe to turn the engine over for diagnostics. When the head gasket is blown, the exhaust smells sweet like antifreeze, and you'll have poor compression in one or more cylinders.