[Vwdiesel] Cracked Heads 1.5L NA and 1.6L NA . and more.

[Val Christian]

On every 1.5 head that I've seen (about 15), by my recollection there were
always these minor cracks between the valves.  Not always on every cylinder,
but certainly on every head.  The machine shops which I used always provided
the assurance that the head was still sound.  I don't remember any of the
cracks exceeding the mentioned 0.3mm, and in fact I would estimate that
the checks were MUCH smaller.

Never have the heads been "repaired" in any sense.  They have always been
pressure tested, and some of them have had seats and other components
replaced.

I've put all of these heads back on engines and had them run for  large
numbers of miles, without a failure.

WRT 1.6 heads, I've only pulled 3 of them.  It mirrors the 1.5 head experience.

Again, my experience on the 1.5 heads is limited to about 15 heads.  Used
1.5 heads should be real easy to come across, perhaps with some regional
variation.


>
> So,
> it seems that the cracking heads are common, as I have heard before. I have
> heard a suggestion to peen the cracks shut. Someone else suggested liquid metal
> to seal the cracks. I would think the later to be a bad idea since they will be
> exposed to high pressure in the combustion chamber. Have people reused heads
> with small cracks, and what was the outcome?
> By the way, thanks for all of the great info. This list is a great resource
> devoted to a great powerplant!
>
> Ken
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