Head gasket.

[Bowie69]

That's not true.

I thought it can't be, but wondered if I was missing something.

I've worked on quite a number of different engines, when you get down to the bulky bits, they are all the same really.

[GazzaG60]

that they are.

the hardest bit is locking off the crank and cracking the crank pulley bolt.

all I can say is eliminate what you can. flush the rad top to bottom make sure water flows out good. proof is seeing a broken gasket,
?
is your gasket paper in the engine by any chance

[s20ale]

that they are.

the hardest bit is locking off the crank and cracking the crank pulley bolt.

all I can say is eliminate what you can. flush the rad top to bottom make sure water flows out good. proof is seeing a broken gasket,
?
is your gasket paper in the engine by any chance

Would the bottom pulley have to come off then? thought that their would be enough slack on the belt by loosening the idler/tensioner.

Seems to be good flow through rad though.

Looks like a paper gasket!!, so i would have thought the diagnoisis would point to the h/gasket, if thats the case then i would have the head pressure tested and skimmed just to be sure...to be sure.........pOtatO.......OOPS sorry slipped into wee people mode then.

Mr Bowie do you own an S2, if so you would realise the concern and not put the I5 under the umbrella of any old lump of metal..

Still need to find a capable person to do it, i just don't have time myself or it would have been done along time ago, there just isn't enough hours in a day for me at the moment.

[Bowie69]

I have an I5, and I understand an S2 is just a 4-pot turbo with an extra cylinder on it. Not exactly rocket science.

An S2 engine is indeed just two large lumps of metal bolted together at the centre of it all, with lots of little bits attached to it.

No need to treat them like glass, they're a good deal simpler than a lot of modern engines, especially the diesels.

[GazzaG60]

paper gasket is not good. its been superseded. you can only get steel now.
the bottom pulley wont need to come off if you are not changing the belt. however its best to do that at same time. the bottom pulley is like 450nm. I think this is due to the washer between the crank sprocket and outer damper. is a 25 quid washer so don't lose it.

whilst the front of the car is off no point in not doing things like that may be worn.

s2 is indeed a 16v with another pot. no intermediate shaft like a 16v so oil pump is on pulley side of engine.

remember head bolts/studs. I used arps as I wanted reusable ones and extra clamping force.

ecp for the gasket.

my advise if you are ademement you don't want to do the job is find a local vw/audi specialist. supply them a list of torque settings, yuoll get them on here. supply the parts.

don't worry. we may seem a little like beaters but s2 engine really is a simple lump in general.

[quattrostyle]

I have an I5, and I understand an S2 is just a 4-pot turbo with an extra cylinder on it. Not exactly rocket science.

An S2 engine is indeed just two large lumps of metal bolted together at the centre of it all, with lots of little bits attached to it.

No need to treat them like glass, they're a good deal simpler than a lot of modern engines, especially the diesels.

Totally agree with you. Actually I think working on a S2 is easier than working on any 4-pot transverse mounted engine, well for me at least.

It can be done without taking the pulley off indeed, but as Gazza pointed out it would be better to change it at the same time and renew the lower cambelt sprocket as well while you're down there.

[Bowie69]

Well the belts are a lot more accessible for sure!