mk2 polo 'burning up' water

[julian]

hi, I am finally getting my hands on my old mans old polo mk2 square back, it's a 1989 G reg but I am not sure if it is going to be worth bothering with.

Over the last year or so the engine seems to get warm a bit quick and the water used to dissapear pretty fast. Then one day it broker down and the AA bloke said (I think) that a cylinder was cracked and leaking water and basically evaporating it straight away.

Does this sound right? I haven't had a chance to look at it, getting back hom from uni later today and me and a mate (he knows a lot more about this stuff than me!) will get the chance to check it out properly. Would this be an easy repair or replacement? Anyone else had it?

Cheers.

[omicron]

Sounds feasible, not common, but it can happen. TBH, the easiest way to go about it is a replacement engine.

[SteB]

Head gaskets a prone to failure on early polo engines between 1 and 2 (or is it 3 and 4, i can never remember!). If the block is cracked or warped, its scrap.

Like for like engine swap might be necessary

[Polo Paul]

My Mk2 had to have a head gasket because of this

[julian]

ok, thanks.

I think that fitting a new engine is probably beyond what time and financial resources.

Would the car be of any use to anyone? Apart from this problem everything else seemed to be working ok although I don't want to gaurantee that. The interior, especially the seats are in very good condtition as seat covers have been used.

It is a 1989 Mk2 While Polo.

If anyone wants it or knows what I can do with it to save it from being completely wasted either reply here or email me on [email protected]

Thanks

[omicron]

Might be worth having the head off and investigating the gasket, but in my experience, the head gaskets on the plain carb engines last forever, it's the injection ones that have the problem.

I'd have it straight off you if you weren't at the far side of the country mate.