My old jetta cl -88 overheats almost immediately. Drove for ten minutes then stopped and coolant came flushing out from underneath. Could it be a simple problem like the thermostat, a leak in a hose or could it be something worse, like a cracked cylinder gasket? I know very little about cars and my car is very old. Is it worth checking out or is ready to be trashed?

 

i would put my money on a burst coolant hose. thats where id start. but no, its not ready to be trashed yet, unless you want it to be...haha

 

Had the car checked out by a mechanic. The cylinder gasket has a crack. Too costly to fix but the mechanics advise was to try "bar's leak", some stuff you put in the cooler and it will seal the crack if you're lucky. I haven't had much luck lately but I'll give it a go.

 

I would advise against using any "magic fix" stop leak additive. Honestly... if you go buy a bentley, a new head gasket (can be had for under $30), and a free saturday, even some one with little experience can do the repair on an 8v.

 

thats what id do, you can probably check on the vortex to see if anyone in your area can help you, its not a terribly hard procedure

 

It's an easy cheap fix if you do it yourself. Bar's leak isn't going to save that engine. That crap is good for pinholes in radiators, it can't take the place of a headgasket. Buy a Bently manual off ebay or amazon, a modest set of tools, and you'll be FAR ahead as the years go by. Maybe even take a class or two at the nearest tech school (most offer night courses) some will give you cheap tuition if you don't take the class for credit...

The best way to avoid being scammed at the dealer (stealer)ship or garage is to do the work yourself.

Good luck!