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Date:         Mon, 17 Mar 2003 16:03:00 -0800
Reply-To:     Zoran Mladen <zmaninco@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Zoran Mladen <zmaninco@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: repeatedly blowing head gasket-what I found
Comments: To: Mark Vermillion <markvermillion@EARTHLINK.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <00c401c2ecdb$b59f3ca0$e55cf7a5@D6X67211>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

What kind of coolant are you using? Corrosion and rust are indicators of phophate anti-freeze and high water content mixture.

I doubt the studs are your problem. I don't think you need to replace them either.

Is it possible you are overtightening the heads, causing a failure of the gaskets?

Z

--- Mark Vermillion <markvermillion@EARTHLINK.NET> wrote: > What I found- > > The pits in the water jacket are minimal. Perhaps > 1/4 of the width of the > jacket, and not engaging the edge. The studs go two > ways: The four on the > top are corroded. Only one of the lower group is. > One of the lower studs > appears to have rotated deeper into the case than > the other three by about > 3mm, or maybe those other three came out with the > nuts. Or maybe they're > stretched, but that seems extreme. Regardless, the > three that are farther > out will not go in any more. > > Anyone still follow this? > > I gather that I'll need to replace the corroded > studs and nuts, but could > this really cause what I've seen? > > Thanks for the patience and all the suggestions, > Mark > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Mark Vermillion" > <markvermillion@EARTHLINK.NET> > To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> > Sent: Monday, March 17, 2003 4:43 PM > Subject: Re: repeatedly blowing head gasket > > > > I'll pull it apart tonight (again) and see what I > find. I don't think the > > head is too bad, really.They're pitted, but with > the JB Weld repairs, they > > look pretty OK. The damage to the gaskets look > like it's coming from the > > water jacket side, from what I can tell. > > > > I haven't really inspected the studs, but will > tonight. > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "gary hradek" <hradek@yahoo.com> > > To: "Vanagon Mailing List" > <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com> > > Cc: <markvermillion@EARTHLINK.NET> > > Sent: Monday, March 17, 2003 3:22 PM > > Subject: repeatedly blowing head gasket > > > > > > > Mark and Ken, > > > I would give some serious thought > before > > > putting in still another head gasket. I think > the > > > speed of the failure suggests a problem that may > be > > > beyond the capacity of even jb weld. Minor > pitting > > > should not fail so soon. Maybe Mark can > provide a > > > picture of his head at some point. Mark, I > admire > > > your efforts and the ability to stick with it. > It > > > just might be time to toss in the towel on this > head. > > > regards gary > > > Date: Mon, 17 Mar 2003 08:18:01 -0500 > > > From: Kenneth Wilford <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET> > > > Subject: Re: repeatedly blowing head gasket > > > > > > This is headgasket replacement 101. You MUST > repair > > > the pits in the > > > case sealing surface before you put on the new > head > > > gasket. I use JB > > > Weld. Clean the pitted area with brake cleaner > and > > > some sand paper. > > > Fill in the pits with JB Weld and let it cure > > > overnight. The next day > > > sand it smooth and back down to the same level > as the > > > aluminum case. > > > While you are at it, feel around on the case lip > > > (where the headgasket > > > sits) and see if you feel any sharp spots. Sand > these > > > a little to > > > smooth them out. This should fix your problem. > (need > > > me to send > > > another gasket?) > > > > > > Thanks, > > > Ken Wilford > > > John 3:16 > > > http://www.vanagain.com > > > Phone: 856-327-4936 > > > Fax: 856-327-2242 > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > From: Mark Vermillion > <markvermillion@EARTHLINK.NET> > > > Date: Sunday, March 16, 2003 4:23 pm > > > Subject: repeatedly blowing head gasket > > > > > > > All- > > > > > > > > I have a 87' GL that has a recurrent problem > with > > > the pass. side > > > > head gasket. Problem is, it won't stay intact. > I > > > just replaced it > > > > for the fourth time, and got approximately 5 > miles > > > out of it. This > > > > is the "short" record. The previous gasket > went 5k > > > miles. The one > > > > before that was good for 500. I don't remeber > how > > > far the first > > > > went. > > > > > > > > The gaskets are splitting from what would > appear to > > > be the back, > > > > or water jacket side. They happen on the same > corner > > > each time: > > > > lower rear. There is some pitting on the water > > > jacket in this > > > > area, but it not the only area with pits. I > tried > > > putting a little > > > > sealant to fill the pits... maybe that wasn't > such a > > > good idea. > > > > > > > > Anyway, any advice or comments would be > appreciated. > > > I'm about > > > > ready to push the thing into the Susquehanna. > > > > > > > > > > > > Mark > > > > > > > > > > __________________________________________________ > > > Do you Yahoo!? > > > Yahoo! Platinum - Watch CBS' NCAA March Madness, > live on your desktop! > > > http://platinum.yahoo.com > > > > >

__________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Platinum - Watch CBS' NCAA March Madness, live on your desktop! http://platinum.yahoo.com


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