Free Scirocco but Rattly Engine

[Skip_Rat]

I've just collected my free Mk2 Scirocco Scala GTi today. I was told that the engine was dead.

How the engine is behaving is quite odd. It had a horrid missfire which was cured by cleaning the plugs. The alternator belt was slipping so I tightened that up too.

The main problerm is that as it warms up the oil light and buzzer come on. Then it starts rattling (sounds top end to me) and ALOT of smoke starts coming out of the exhaust plus it leaks a bit of oil out of the filler cap. I checked the oil and it seems to have about twice as much in as it should plus it is very thin and smells of petrol.......

Is it a scrap engine or worth trying an oil change?

[chairchild]

tbh, shove in some cheapo oil and cheapo filter - it's worth it for the sake of £25!

[panelbeaterpeter]

No such things as a Scala Gti.. can only be one or the other. I think it needs a bit more than an oil change.. relatively easy to find one of those engines.

[craig1010cc]

I suspect it is a scala i (which is the same lump as in the GTi).

Cracking cars, and both mine were free as well

[ChasR]

I would risk an oil and filter change to see what happens. But if it has way too much oil the damage may already have been done.

However, remember that a big end rattle can also sound as if it is coming from near the top of the engine.

[bortaf]

Litle ends can sound cammy and usually show up when warm, low oil pressure when warm could well be the mains but they deffo rumble not rattle like the little ends do

[Skip_Rat]

Yes its a Scala injection

I'll try a quick oil change and filter before I break it. I suspect there is alot of petrol mixed in with the oil for whatever reason.

[RobinJI]

Dec 20, 2011 12:06:44 GMT Skip_Rat said:

Yes its a Scala injection

I'll try a quick oil change and filter before I break it. I suspect there is alot of petrol mixed in with the oil for whatever reason.

No need to break it if the engine's dead, just stick a new lump in and have fun in a nice car. The engine's the easiest to replace part of a Scirocco, the shell's the opposite.

[Skip_Rat]

The sad thing about sciroccos is that they seem to be worth so little that I'd probably be better of stripping it and weighing it in than replacing the engine and putting it through a MOT.

[welshpug]

no you wouldnt

8v engines are ten a penny, they chucked them in allsorts.

[RobinJI]

The thing is, that not only are the cars not worth much, but the same goes for the parts. Running gear's all golf, so common as anything, and the bodywork's only being bought by other Scirocco owners, who are well aware that it's not worth much. The only bits that sell easily are the bits that can be used as upgrades for golfs.

[vitesseefi]

The top end clattering is probably the result of some or all of the hydraulic cam followers not working properly due to low oil pressure / thin "oil". Oil and filter change is probably worth a go but do bear in mind that there will be a reason why there is petrol in the oil......

If it's a GTI. presumably this has K-Jet mechanical injection?

Two ways these fill up with petrol.
1. The cold start injector sticks open and causes massive overfuelling (causes smoke also). Quite often these do close after a while and, if so, can simply be disconnected and ignored, usually giving improved starting and economy without any ill-effects.
2. One or more of the actual injectors is dirty or knackered and hosing or dribbling continuously.

If it is carb fed - most likely the fuel pump diaphragm has a small hole in it, allowing petrol through into the sump.

Shame to break if the shell/interior are decent.

Nick

[murran]

if the body works tidy, don't break it. fix it. jesus.

[Deleted]

I'd have to say that the high oil level is probably due to petrol getting in there and raising the level, an oil change might improve it but the damage could already have been done, fingers crossed though but you need to find out how the petrol is getting into the oil.

[djefk]

Got to be worth an oil and filter change to see if this does indeed cure the rattling as Nick / Vitesse says and then going right through the fuel system to find the fault if so? It sounds like you've written it off before you've started.

[bortaf]

If the oil is full of petrol it will smell of it no need to guess, i've had this before a few times with leaking mechanical fuel pumps and injectors, just warm it up and sniff the dipstick/filler cap and while the dipstick is out see if the oil is runny
Persnly I hate breaking a good car but i've broke LOTS and my opinion is "if you want it saved buy it off me and save it" it's his car he can do what he wants, and it's no good asking Jesus he had a triumph, no doubt he had to scrap that after it rusted away a wekk after the resurection ;D

[Skip_Rat]

If it was a mint car I wouldn't be considering breaking it for the want of an engine

I bought it 3 years ago for £200 after it had been broken into and then left outside. It was full of water and I spent a week getting it dried out and working again. Some months later when the MOT was due i sold it to a m8 for £50. That was two years ago. He spent alot of money having a garage get it through a MOT and about a week later it started rattling.

By that time he had decided he didnt like it much anyway and it sat until a few weeks ago when he told me he was going to crush it if I didn't want it.

I've taken it back in case it's a simple fix, but I don't need another project or indeed another car. I will try an oil and filter change and then the car will be offered in whole or as parts in the hope that at least it will help keep other Sciroccos on the road rather than feeding it straight into the crusher...

so there

[RobinJI]

Fair play, yeah, sometime's it's really not worth it, it just sounded like all that was wrong with it was the engine. If you do brake it I might be interested in a few bits, especially if it's alpine white.

[tonka12]

if petrol is going in to the oil then its only route is past the rings . no oil pressure could just be down to a blocked pick up pipe in the sump .
and no hydraulic lifters on that motor just shims

[RobinJI]

Dec 21, 2011 22:13:36 GMT tonka12 said:

if petrol is going in to the oil then its only route is past the rings . no oil pressure could just be down to a blocked pick up pipe in the sump .
and no hydraulic lifters on that motor just shims

Yep, only route for the fuel's past the rings, unless someone's done some very dodgy plumbing!

They are hydraulic lifters after some time in the mid 80s. Can't remember exactly when, somewhere between 84 and 86, but they're definitely were on my 89, and definitely should be on a 91 injection lump.

If there's a lot of petrol in there it could be thinning the oil enough to cause the low oil pressure even if the oil system's fine.