My new GTI-6 P1

[MarcoB]

Well dip the oil and see where its at
If you need a hand with the gearbox Ill gladly help. I'd say ill help with the cambelt but Ive heard too many horror stories to attempt it on someone elses car!

[JoeyD]

The oil was on the lower marking.. reckon that'd be enough to make it tap like mad? It does go away once it warms up a bit. I'm just fearing the worst i.e bent valves

[MarcoB]

What oil filter do you have on it? If youve got low oil and a s**t filter on it then the head will drain.

[JoeyD]

I'll have a check tomorrow. I assume it's just a generic halfords one, or something similar. I'll try and check the cambelt out too - see if everything lines up as it should do. It's really playing on my mind now! Cambelt change is imminent though. 100%.

[welshname]

That all sounds s**t Joey. It's starting to sound as long as the list of s**t I've got going on with my car.

[alex-avfc]

This is what pisses me off with old cars. The list of stuff to do just mounts, and it starts to niggle at you!

I do like this though, perservere with it! My GTI used to leak slowly between the bell housing and the engine, I imagine it was crank seal, never enough oil for me to bother getting it sorted.

[JoeyD]

Did you ever get to the bottom of what was causing your oil loss Rhys?

I was thinking it'd just be a seal... I'll drive it and see how much it loses. Might not be that bad, there wasn't exactly a puddle underneath it, just a few drips. I'm more worried about the tapping tbh. Don't fancy having the head rebuilt TBH!
It's an 800 quid car, if its knackered I'll either find another engine or break it
Going to crack on with the Decat today anyway. Might make a start on those aero catches too if I've got time before its dark.

[JoeyD]

Just been for a quick drive to get some petrol and thankfully the tapping has completely gone! Must just have been because of the low oil level. Massive relief!
Cambelt is getting done in the next couple of weeks, so that should solve the timing issues and then I just need to find and stop the leak!

Waiting for it to cool down, then I'll get on with the decat
Things are looking up again!

[welshname]

Did you ever get to the bottom of what was causing your oil loss Rhys?

Nope. I think it's gaskets tbh. Rocker cover gasket has now been replaced and I think that it's slowed down the oil loss a lot. We shall see though.

[Jon.G]

Glad this is moving forward now pal, Glad you've got a job too. Leaving Uni (first time) was the best thing I ever did!

I'll be interested to see what the aero catches look like once on. I've got a spare bonnet for the T and was thinking of getting some

[JoeyD]

Nope. I think it's gaskets tbh. Rocker cover gasket has now been replaced and I think that it's slowed down the oil loss a lot. We shall see though.

I imagine there's quite a lot of old perished rubber on both our cars tbh! So long as your bottom end isn't going to go bang, it shouldn't be too costly - it's just finding it that's a pain!

Glad this is moving forward now pal, Glad you've got a job too. Leaving Uni (first time) was the best thing I ever did!

I'll be interested to see what the aero catches look like once on. I've got a spare bonnet for the T and was thinking of getting some

Yeah, it's been the best decision I've ever made! I found my self settling in more in the two days I've been at work than I ever did at uni, so I'm much happier now

I'm absolutely terrified of doing the Aero Catches! It's going to take some working out where to drill and cut etc.. Going to have to improvise with tools too, but I'll make a good job of it, even if it takes a couple of days to get right.

[plymcl172]

Just been for a quick drive to get some petrol and thankfully the tapping has completely gone! Must just have been because of the low oil level. Massive relief!
Cambelt is getting done in the next couple of weeks, so that should solve the timing issues and then I just need to find and stop the leak!

Waiting for it to cool down, then I'll get on with the decat
Things are looking up again!

come on lad topping up the oil is one thing you should always keep on 'top' of !

[JoeyD]

It had been stood and oil has leaked out - Topping up the oil was obviously the first thing I did! But yesterday it was tapping even after putting oil in, so I was worried the belt had slipped or something. I'm no n00b, promise (oh and I couldn't check the oil before I started it up as I couldn't get round the front of the car in my parents garage, before you ask )

[Jon.G]

I imagine there's quite a lot of old perished rubber on both our cars tbh! So long as your bottom end isn't going to go bang, it shouldn't be too costly - it's just finding it that's a pain!



Yeah, it's been the best decision I've ever made! I found my self settling in more in the two days I've been at work than I ever did at uni, so I'm much happier now

I'm absolutely terrified of doing the Aero Catches! It's going to take some working out where to drill and cut etc.. Going to have to improvise with tools too, but I'll make a good job of it, even if it takes a couple of days to get right.

Are you still living in Salford then, or have you moved back home now?

[Kieran..]

Let me know how you get on with the aero Catches as I fancy some on my mx5, you using a dremel?

[JoeyD]

Are you still living in Salford then, or have you moved back home now?

I moved to Salford Quays in March, and I'm going to be here for at least a year now. Probably longer though, I like Manchester! Having been in my home town for two days, there's no way I'd move back now... it's too quiet!

Let me know how you get on with the aero Catches as I fancy some on my mx5, you using a dremel?

AeroCatches are.. Time consuming! I'm using f**king grinding stones on the end of an 80's drill as I've got nothing else! lol. Should be a piece of piss with a dremel tbh!
I've more or less finished one side now, just got to bolt it all up and adjust it... the problem I'm having is that I've chosen to put them right where the bonnet skin is - so I'm having to cut through two sheets of metal instead of one. With blunt tools. FFS!

[Kieran..]

Hmmm doesn't Sound fun mate! I don't have a dremel either so I was thinking marking it up, drilling out holes and then angle grinding the main part out and then smooth it off with the grinding stones on a drill lol

[JoeyD]

An angle grinder would be a massive help!
I've gone through 3 grinding stones on one side ffs! If you've got the right tools and some patience, its easy! Lining everything up can be a ballache, but its not really difficult as such.
Well worth doing though! They're awesome.

[MarcoB]

Change the timing belt yourself its not that hard. Mark up the bottom end and lock the cams. Glad hear its not f**ked! Its the only P1 Ive seen that I like.

[Cookson]

If you want an angle grinder, i dont mind lending you mine. can drop it round anytime you like with a fresh disc