There is no problem with starting up or idling, so the problem may not be as bad as i think. Acceleration is not spectacular right now, but that could be because of other things. Check Engine light is on, but I do not ahve the means to decipher it at this time.
The small diameter vacuum hose at the PCV heater... I normally see it being routed to the top of the throttle body. On yours it is attached to the vacuum fittings at the intake manifold... yours is either an early version or was converted from not having the PCV heater to having it (conversion involves replacing intake hose from MAF to throttle body, new intake hose contains PCV heater, and then running a vacuum hose to the intake). Any / all leaks / stains that are visible... are due to minor leaks that , over time, capture dirt and cause that grimy look. To get an idea of how bad things actually are... you can degrease the engine / give it a wash. To prevent the ignition system from being affected, you can use brake parts cleaner to wash the engine, but that can get a bit expensive. However, brake parts cleaner works well and dries quickly. Once clean, you can then drive the car as you normally do and check things again a week later. The leak that's dripping under the engine bay in the middle of the bay... is probably coolant from the coolant flange at the side of the cylinder head. Yes, 50/50 coolant / water mix is the best thing year round. Water can cause corrosion / rust to occur, which can cause damage to parts or plug coolant passages. It's a good idea to replace ignition components every 5 to 8 years depending on miles driven. Hold off on the spark plugs... if you degrease the valve cover and determine that you will be replacing the valve cover gasket due to it leaking... replace the spark plugs when doing the valve cover gasket, as the intake manifold has to come off... you will have more room / easier access to the plugs at that point.
@@EXOVCDS Thanks man! ok so... 1. Do i need to replace the PCV valve? 2. Can i steam clean the engine? 3. The coolant flange was actually replaced 25,000 miles ago. Is this timeframe normal? Your are probably right about the leak being the coolant flange because I am somewhat regularly topping off the expansion tank because there seems to be a slow leak somewhere in the cooling system. Does this mean I cant flush until that flange is changed? 4. According to my service history, the valve cover gasket and the intake manifold gasket were replaced 78,000 miles ago. Is it a good idea to remove the intake manifold and inspect the gaskets at this point? (the intake manifold is the big gray piece tha says VW 2.0, right?) Thanks again, this means alot!
@@drittttt 1) It's a good idea to replace the PCV valve... it's a tune-up item (5 to 8 years depending on miles driven). 2) Yes, but like I said.. to prevent ignition system failure due to washing with water... use brake parts cleaner 3) It was a gut response on my part... usual cause of coolant dripping in the middle / under the engine, is due to coolant flange. If the flange is OK (you need to verify) than look for a difference leak source. If the flange is not OK... replace it. 4) As I said... grime is everywhere, which means leakage has been going on for some time. Degrease and then check to prioritize which repair to do first... or do it all at the same time. Yes, intake is the one with the 2.0 on it.
@@EXOVCDS Kool! I captured some of the leak in a pan and it is oil, coming from driver's side, mid-engine. One last video if you don't mind: ua-cam.com/video/y-jOTlYWKDc/v-deo.html Coolant flange is ok, was replaced only 25000miles ago.
There is no problem with starting up or idling, so the problem may not be as bad as i think. Acceleration is not spectacular right now, but that could be because of other things. Check Engine light is on, but I do not ahve the means to decipher it at this time.
The small diameter vacuum hose at the PCV heater... I normally see it being routed to the top of the throttle body. On yours
it is attached to the vacuum fittings at the intake manifold... yours is either an early version or was converted from not
having the PCV heater to having it (conversion involves replacing intake hose from MAF to throttle body, new intake hose contains
PCV heater, and then running a vacuum hose to the intake).
Any / all leaks / stains that are visible... are due to minor leaks that , over time, capture dirt and cause that grimy look.
To get an idea of how bad things actually are... you can degrease the engine / give it a wash. To prevent the ignition system
from being affected, you can use brake parts cleaner to wash the engine, but that can get a bit expensive. However, brake
parts cleaner works well and dries quickly. Once clean, you can then drive the car as you normally do and check things
again a week later.
The leak that's dripping under the engine bay in the middle of the bay... is probably coolant from the coolant flange at the
side of the cylinder head. Yes, 50/50 coolant / water mix is the best thing year round. Water can cause corrosion / rust
to occur, which can cause damage to parts or plug coolant passages.
It's a good idea to replace ignition components every 5 to 8 years depending on miles driven.
Hold off on the spark plugs... if you degrease the valve cover and determine that you will be replacing the valve cover gasket
due to it leaking... replace the spark plugs when doing the valve cover gasket, as the intake manifold has to come off... you will
have more room / easier access to the plugs at that point.
@@EXOVCDS Thanks man! ok so...
1. Do i need to replace the PCV valve?
2. Can i steam clean the engine?
3. The coolant flange was actually replaced 25,000 miles ago. Is this timeframe normal? Your are probably right about the leak being the coolant flange because I am somewhat regularly topping off the expansion tank because there seems to be a slow leak somewhere in the cooling system. Does this mean I cant flush until that flange is changed?
4. According to my service history, the valve cover gasket and the intake manifold gasket were replaced 78,000 miles ago. Is it a good idea to remove the intake manifold and inspect the gaskets at this point? (the intake manifold is the big gray piece tha says VW 2.0, right?)
Thanks again, this means alot!
Saw your video on gaskets removal. bookmarked! Looks like i need brake parts clean/degreaser
@@drittttt
1) It's a good idea to replace the PCV valve... it's a tune-up item (5 to 8 years depending on miles driven).
2) Yes, but like I said.. to prevent ignition system failure due to washing with water... use brake parts cleaner
3) It was a gut response on my part... usual cause of coolant dripping in the middle / under the engine, is due
to coolant flange. If the flange is OK (you need to verify) than look for a difference leak source. If the flange is
not OK... replace it.
4) As I said... grime is everywhere, which means leakage has been going on for some time. Degrease and then check
to prioritize which repair to do first... or do it all at the same time. Yes, intake is the one with the 2.0 on it.
@@EXOVCDS Kool! I captured some of the leak in a pan and it is oil, coming from driver's side, mid-engine. One last video if you don't mind: ua-cam.com/video/y-jOTlYWKDc/v-deo.html Coolant flange is ok, was replaced only 25000miles ago.