golf tdi head gasket

[abz2005]

hiya folks, just a quick question on behalf of a friend

he has a 2001 (y-reg) golf tdi (115bhp model) the other week he had the head gasket done by a local garage of his, when he got it back he said the car is juddering badly, he took it back to the mechanic he couldnt find anything wrong, so he took it to VW and they said the head shouldnt have been skimmed so he needs a new one.

Are VW right? what else could cause this juddering? any answers greatly appreciated

cheers

abz

[Wobby]

I have no idea but i don't think you are supposed to skim VW diesel heads. Not sure why, just know you should fit a new head and not have it skimmed.

[Rustynuts]

Skim the head and you increase the compression ratio. They run about 19 - 1 compression as standard, but with the head material skimmed off you could be way up past critical point. As I remember, VW TDI head gaskets come in three different thicknesses. They're marked with a notch for number one, 2 notches for number 2 etc. and are all slightly different thickness. The gasket is matched to the head and block when the engine is built, so that the comp. ratio is correct.

When the head gasket is replaced, you have to fit one with the same number of notches to keep the engine at the correct ratio. Skimming the head fecks all the calculations up which are done initially, and unless your cowboy mechanics can recalculate the volume of the combustion chamber in the head, include the swept volume of the cylinders, and factor in the correct thickness of head gasket to bring the compression ratio back to where it should be, then you're looking for a new head.

Just my opinion, and worth exactly what you paid for it.....