Date: Fri, 6 Apr 2001 15:07:49 -0400
Reply-To: "Carlen, Gregg" <Gregg.Carlen@DYNCORP.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "Carlen, Gregg" <Gregg.Carlen@DYNCORP.COM>
Subject: Re: Corroding spark plugs in WBoxer
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
What you descirbe is a slow leak getting worse and worse. The way you
describe it sounds like one of the rubber, o-ring gaskets or the primary
gasket on that head is leaking coolant into the cylinder. One way to get a
better idea of what is happening is to pull the plug out from that cylinder
and one from the other side of the engine (a known 'good' cylinder), then
shine a pen light into the hole and with a magnifying glass look into the
cylinder. Its tricky and the pen light will need to be right next to your
head to see into the cylinder, but if the piston is at the top of the
chamber, you should be able to see if there is pitting (and indication of
coolant and/or steam). One coolant tank every 4 months is way too much
consumption. If you're not seeing it dripping on the ground, it must be
going into the combustion chamber. Not a good thing. I would recommend
fixing sooner than later. My .02.
Good luck,
Gregg Carlen
85 Westy, 202k
----- Original Message -----
From: "Atkinson, Scott (CLW, Floreat)" <Scott.Atkinson@PER.CLW.CSIRO.AU>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, April 05, 2001 8:29 PM
Subject: Corroding spark plugs in WBoxer
> Hello all
>
> I am having problems with spark plugs in my Vanagon. Install new ones and
> all is OK for about 6 months, then a slight miss at startup occurs. This
> disappears quickly and all seems OK. This slight miss a startup continues
> and slowly get worse until, after about 6 months, it wont go away.
>
> Remove the sparkplug and it looks like its been there of 40,000KM not
> 6,000km. The centre electrode is worn WAY down, the gap is huge and the
body
> of the plug appears VERY pitted, like rust has eaten it away. This occurs
on
> one side of the motor only, the other sides spark plugs look fine.
>
> The motor has been losing water (only about 1 overflow tank/4 months) but
I
> have not been able to find any leaks.
>
> What do you think is wrong and do you think it is damaging the motor? Will
I
> have to replace the head gaskets?
>
> I did have a rubber gasket blow on the other side and I replaced the head
> gaskets on that side but time and money stopped me from doing both as the
> head I removed looked like new!
>
> Thanks for any suggestions and have a great weekend.
>
> Scott
>
> 90 Vanagon Auto
>
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