86 Scirocco feeling sluggish!

[scratchfree]

Was stuck in some heavy traffic for a while today, now normally the engine temp does go over the middle mark (why i dont know) but today it was in this position for 30 mins, and ever since it feels sluggish poorer gear changes (auto ya see)

Any ideas ?

[scratchfree]

Ok i have a feeling somehow when my handy man has tweaked my carb somehow the coolant has got in the engine... coolant level was down, engine oil levels up, black splutter coming out of exhaust and seems to be a bit of oil on top of manifold below carb !!


Now do i just replace oils, coolant etc or will head gasket need replacing??

[Brunty]

If coolant gets into the oil it will emulsify and you'll see it at the high points in the engine (filler cap). Looks like mayonnaise. So highly unlikely that you've got contamination.

I've obviously got confused with the relevance of the sitting in traffic temps...

[SCOTMCDOT]

If the gasket has only just gone you may not get sludge just yet. It depends how much has mixed. There may still be overheating and oil and water dissapearing.

Simply refil your oil and water and just keep a check on it and make sure the heater in the car is blowing hot air. Also check the water is circulating by seeing if there is any play in your water pump as if this has gone it will cause overheating and possibly HG failure.

One thing to do is to check your hoses and radiator cap. This could also cause overheating and fluid loss (but does not explain the oil). Eliminate everything else until we look at the HG.

[scratchfree]

thanks for the great response, right since the little incident the other week, car still feels sluggish, sometimes when the car is cold or sometimes runs sweet when cold and sluggish when temp guage nears towards the middle...

Now since the incident, i have fitted new thermostat, coolant flush, new coolant, new oil...

7 days after all this coolant is still lovely and blue used to always be orange, oil still golden

just sluggish now and then..

Things i think it could be!

1: Choke not working properly (original Pierburg 2e2)

2: Manifold Gasket blown ( small traces of oil above manifold directly under carb) (Causes minor smoking now and then)

3: Head Gasket


Thanks

[Brunty]

It's not your head gasket.

Could be the warm air flap on the air inlet pipe is stuck on warm. Could be the rubber block the carb is mounted on is cracked. You've a bit of an issue if it's intermittent though, try and find a common link to when the power isn't there.