Date: Tue, 14 Mar 2000 09:46:59 -0500
Reply-To: Bob Donalds <bostneng@FCL-US.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Bob Donalds <bostneng@FCL-US.NET>
Organization: Boston Engine Exchange
Subject: Re: Head gasket again...
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Richard Bias wrote:
>
> Good morning All,
> I am looking for a little re-assurance (if possible) and some advice. I
> am currently doing my second head gasket replacement in the six or so months
> I have owned our Vanagon (1985, 8 passenger, 1.9L, White GL). The first
> head gasket job came when I sprung a leak to the outside world of streaming
> blue coolant. I cleaned the heads and the cylinder barrels myself. I was
> extremely careful to do a precise job, took close to a month, with more than
> a couple of "all day'ers". I took my time as this was my first time with a
> water cooled. I had a Bus in HS that I did a lot of successful work on the
> engine, brakes, clutch, front end (don't ask), body... My current situation
> happened on a 700 mile trip to Pittsburgh. I had compression pressure in
> the coolant system. I understand that I may have not had the heads "sand
> blasted" cleaned the first time but how does the compression head gasket
> leak? I just brought both heads to the shop and they got the OK on the
> pressure test and there is very little to no pitting (I know what a pitted
> head looks like too). Why do you suppose they leaked?
> Second question, What do you lubricate coolant hoses with to make them
> slide on their male flanges easier? Thanks for any words of wisdom and or
> support.
> Rich and Annemarie
> 85 GL "Buba"
> 98 Bug
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Richard
we way I understand the inner head gasket failure is that when the
engine gets to hot and overheats the cast iron cylinder expands and
crushes the gasket even more than normal. the pressure of the head
against the gasket is then gone until the engine runs for a couple of
minutes and then as the cast iron sleve expands and seals itself again.
I drove a van in this condition for months I would start and run the
engine for a couple of minutes then relieve the pressure with a special
valve that was installed in the cooling system. the van would run all
day no problems
always be careful when working on cooling systems you can be badly
burned
for the hoses I use a silicone oring lube try not to use a petrolium
based lube
Bob
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