Is my engine dying?

[Jizmondo Scrotmondo]

Think my Golf may be about to die

It's done 168k so it's high mileage. It's always been a bit tappy when cold, but once it warms up, it's ok and has always pulled well. In the last two weeks, it's had a full service.

The last few days though, it's started to chug when idling and on my way from work today, when I accelerate hard, it sounds like a diesel at low revs, knocking but once you get to higher RPM, it sounds normal. There's no smoke but the knocking is really worrying me. I phoned my mate who's a VAG tech and he said not to drive it and he's coming to have a look/listen tomorrow night. there's no lights on the dash or anything.

With the high mileage and the noise, I'm think it may be on the way out. My mate says not to worry and that if it is the engine, we'll just stick another one in.

Worst case scenario, what options have I got engine-wise?

[jrevillug]

Could be big ends rattling - advice from your mate is spot-on. BTW, does the oil light work? (It should come on when you turn the ignition on, and go out when you start the engine.)

As for engines, find a low-miles lump from a smashed Golf? Or just about any other 4-pot VAG engine will go in with varying amounts of work. 1.8 20v Turbo? 1.6TD? 1.9TDi?

[mdh]

W12 Veryon motor? :-)

[Jizmondo Scrotmondo]

Any motor which will get me to work at the moment will do

[PandaSelecta]

Did you do the service or did a garage do it?

[Jizmondo Scrotmondo]

I serviced it. 10w/40 Oil & filter, air filter and plugs.

[`state]

I`ll guess at the headgasket going between cylinders.

[RobinJI]

Another 1.8 8v will be cheap and easy enough to get hold of. Last mk2 GTI engine I bought cost me £60 for the engine/box including all ancillaries, basically everything but loom and ECU. So it's not the end of the world if it is knackered. That would be fairly early for a mk2 lump to give up though, unless it's been abused by a previous owner it should manage 200k without issue. I know of at least one in the states that's managed over 800k without the head coming off! (that could be km not miles though, impressive either way though!)

As James says, pretty much any VW 4-banger will go in with varying work. Is your car digifant or k-jet? If it's digifant then I believe mk3 GTI engines are a VERY easy to swap in (plug and play basically), and nowadays are probably actually easier to find than a mk2 engine. If it's k-jet and the issue is the bottom end then I believe a mk3 2l 8v or mk2 k-jet bottom end would bolt straight up to your head to keep things bolt in and easy.

[welshpug]

what year is it and which engine is in there?

168k in the grand scheme of things is not high at all, especially if serviced properly, however if abused could well be on borrowed time.

[Jizmondo Scrotmondo]

It's a Digifant (it's post '86) One of my mates had a GTI which had done nearly 270k and it was lovely.

I could basically use the bottom end from a Mk3 2.0 8v (2E) and stick the current head on it? I've done a bit of reading and apparently, I'd have issues with lining up the manifold as the 2E block is a few mm taller? I'm assuming I'd need a 2E dizzy?

I know I sound a bit thick but the most I've done with cars is CV joints, brakes, waterpumps, servicing and exhausts. My mate is a VAG tech but I like to learn all this shizzle myself!

[Battles]

Mar 18, 2013 19:41:34 GMT Jizmondo Scrotmondo said:

I know I sound a bit thick but the most I've done with cars is CV joints, brakes, waterpumps, servicing and exhausts.

That's a lot more than a lot of people can do, sounds like you're well capable of an engine swap as you've already done your homework.
Time to start a build thread?

[killerbee]

oil starvation? mine started that after a change and it was all the curse word stirred up during the change causing a blockage. if you can be bothered, run an engine flush and some cheap oil through it, drive it with the flush in and rev it well, then drop it, (a few miles max) then put some better oil in and see if it still does it. doesn't mean it's dead just because it rattles.

[dodgerover]

Just filled up with petrol before this started by any chance? Could be major pre-ignition caused by some bad fuel.

[thesam]

My mates was making similar noises.

Turned out to be his oil pump...

[Jizmondo Scrotmondo]

Right, I've had a read and I got my torch out and had a look at the knock sensor which look absolutely knackered, all bare wires with green corrosion. My mate said if this is knackered, it will cause rough running and pinking when revved and under load. Fuel-wise, I ran about £20 of optimax through about 3 days ago but it ran fine up until today really. I've had it 18 months and never cleaned the throttle body or MAF?

[killerbee]

Golfs tender to misfire at idle if the throttle body gunges up it shouldn't give you those symptoms, it's an easy clean though so bung some air intake cleaner through it. Sensor is a good shout but I'd still look at oil first before spending any money on an engine that may die from oil starvation, unless someone can lend you one?

[Jizmondo Scrotmondo]

The knock sensor is perished so I'll have to replace it if i put a new bottom end on it anyway. they're £24 from GSF so I reckon it's worth a shot if my mate says so.
The oil warning light works fine and it hasn't been buzzing and flashing. I've thought about the oil pump. I've changed the oil every six months so that was the third oil change I've done since owning it. I should get a clearer idea when my mate looks at it tonight.

I think I've already made my mind up about putting a 2.0 8v bottom end on if it is definately dead. It's a nice motor and I don't really want to get rid.

[barty]

don't bury the engine till you have had it checked out, may be only and exhaust blowing from the manifold lol

[Jizmondo Scrotmondo]

We had a look at it earlier. My VAG mate says it isn't big end noise and the clacking noise when revving hard is just pinking. The revs are going up and down when idling and eventually it cuts out. We had a look at the knock sensor and it's absolutely knackered. disconnected it whilst it was running and.....it still ran rough. He says other than the rough running, there's no noise coming from the bottom.

[RobinJI]

Good news that it's not a goner .

Starting with the obvious, have you checked the ignition timing? Unlikely but I guess the dizzy could have slipped, with the knock sensor compensating until it failed? Or as dodgerover says, I guess it could be bad fuel or some crud being pulled up from the bottom of the tank. I think my first port of call would be to check the timing, brim it with premium fuel and change the fuel filter. Giving the MAF and ICV a good clean's not going to hurt either.