David Xen

Hi, i'm helping my friend with her 97 a4 with the 1.8 non turbo engine, the head gasket blew and the engine overheated, i have changed the gasket and also had to replace the flange on the back of the cylinder head thats connected to the cooling system since it would just spew water.

The engine now runs great and keeps the coolant in the system where it belongs, however the engine overheats, i have tried to get the air out both by bleeding it from the hose running from the black pipe under the intake to the expansion/filler bottle with the engine running (got quite a bit out) and by driving the car until it warmed up and then parking it (once again got quite a bit of air bubbling up in the expansion/filler bottle).

So, i'm trying to figure out whats wrong, there is no strange sounds coming from the water pump (which should mean that it works), the water seems to be going round in the engine (since i have water pressure at the top of the rail on the way from the engine to the radiator), so the thermostat should be opening correctly, and the fans are running...

more air in the system that doesn't want to come out?

sorry for any incorrect terms used, i äm swedish

David.Norton

I've never had that much trouble getting my 1.8 bled, did you check the block and head for flatness before you put it back together? You could have a warped head.

jseklund

Did you do a compression test after you changed the head gasket?

I would change the water pump after that job anyway, oil could have infiltrated the cooling system and the water pump could be impaired, which would take out the engine if it seizes.

Does the car over heat when it is moving? Or only when it is sitting still?