Date: Wed, 9 Feb 2000 18:21:50 -0500
Reply-To: Mark Gajewski <mgajewski@MANVILLERUBBER.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Mark Gajewski <mgajewski@MANVILLERUBBER.COM>
Subject: head compression leak again!#$%!
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Well, after a very quite several months my head is leaking....again. I'm
rather frustrated by this recurring problem and am wondering if either I am
doing something wrong (very likely) or if there is some other problem (also
very likely). Here is the background for anyone who is able to offer me
some guidance:
- Van is an '85 GL 1.9L with 120K
- Bought van used at 65K. Heads looked recently resealed as the sealant
goop oozing out from around the rubber looked pretty clean and new
- At 85K the water pump bearings blew on the interstate and I wasn't
circulating H20 other than out the back of the van. Replaced water pump
road side and drove 400 miles home with a plugged/melted CAT that created
excessive back pressure. My stupidity in driving the van without hacksawing
off the CAT or the prior overheating resulted in a blown compression seal
that was pressurizing the coolant with engine gases so I replaced both head
gaskets, again this was at 85K
- At 100K I started getting engine gas pressurized coolant again and pulled
the left head first where I found coolant inside the back left cylinder (#4?
I think). Anyway, to save time and money I replaced only the left head
gasket and didn't touch the right figuring that the coolant told me where
the problem was. I was correct and that fixed the problem.
- At 108K same damn problem. I pulled both heads, had them rebuilt, checked
for cracks and flatness and everything checked out perfectly. Back on they
went with new gaskets. Problem solved.
-Now, I'm at 120K and the other morning my heater starts blowing
cold/hot/cold/hot and temp gauge is fluctuating. Take a look at
coolant....same darn problem, it's getting pressurized by the engine gases
again.
Each reseal I took extra special care to torque head bolts exactly per spec.
Last time I even let the van run for a day or two and then went back in to
retorque just in case. Any suggestions? I feel that maybe driving with the
melted CAT plugging my exhaust did me in, but nothing appears to be wrong
with the heads. Also, I'm betting 100 to 1 it's the left side again. Why
always that one stupid head? Can I retorque or extra torque the heads now,
12K after the last reseal in hopes of stopping the leak?
Any help, mechanical or spiritual, is greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Mark
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