Date: Wed, 7 May 2003 16:09:18 -0700
Reply-To: Craig Oda <craigoda@COMMUNITYBUILDERS.INFO>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Craig Oda <craigoda@COMMUNITYBUILDERS.INFO>
Subject: Re: head internal leak. Any chance of sealer working
In-Reply-To: <002c01c314ea$6e877620$6400a8c0@masterpc>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Dennis,
this might be the case. My muffler and general exhaust system might be
leaking, which might be making the problem worse.
This is my second 1.9L waterboxer in the same van within a year. I
bought the current one used on eBay for $180. Cheap! and it works...
well, better than the old one.
Story of the 1st waterboxer...
My first waterboxer suffered from a cracked head. I found this out
after taking out and reinstalling the head a few times. Originally, the
problem was not so bad, just some white smoke when I cranked the engine
up cold. However, the problem got worse after a radiator hose blew out
in the desert in Arizona, about 700 miles from home :-( After I
swapped the heads, there was no white smoke when I started the engine
and also the coolant temp would stay dead on in the center. The engine
eventually succumbed to low oil pressure.
Story of 2nd waterboxer
This baby had been sitting idle for some time. The van was junked due
to vandalism. A nice guy shipped it to me from Washington. Installed
the engine, put some coolant in, changed oil and filter and it ran!
There was some water coming out the exhaust, but I figured it was
because the engine was idle. Well, after about a month, the problem
persists. Other than this, the van runs fine. So, I'm thinking of
dumping in 16 oz of KW Block Seal
http://shop.store.yahoo.com/rodi/crc401016d.html
Read the marketing crap (which I've succumbed to) on this snake oil
"This Permanent Metallic Block Seal is guaranteed to seal holes and
cracks in cast iron and aluminum engine blocks and cylinder heads, head
gaskets, freeze plugs, and copper, aluminum, all metal, plastic and
bi-material radiators and heater cores. It forms a permanent molecular
seal (not a temporary patch) that is as strong as steel. It will not
break away or wash out. Treats six-cylinder and larger engines and can
be used with gas or diesel engines. When using this product, add to
water only...NOT to antifreeze or oil! Treats cooling system with a
capacity of 6 gallons or less."
Dennis Haynes wrote:
>Are you sure it is coolant? How much are you loosing. Most internal
>leaks will cause havoc by allowing the combustion gasses into the
>cooling system. It is normal for a healthy engine with the correct fuel
>mixture to expel some water out of the exhaust. The water vapor
>condenses in the cool muffler and then come out in droplets, sometimes
>big droplets. As the muffler warms, the water will stay in vapor form
>and remain invisible.
>
>Dennis
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf
>Of Craig Oda
>Sent: Wednesday, May 07, 2003 3:35 PM
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: head internal leak. Any chance of sealer working
>
>I've got a small amount of coolant coming out of my exhaust when I first
>start a stone-cold engine. The leaking occurs about 20 seconds after I
>start the engine. No white cloud initially. Also, the coolant temp
>guage is about 3mm right of center. Used to be dead-on center with my
>previous 1.9L.
>
>I've got 2 spare working heads in my garage as well as new head
>gaskets. But, I wanted to save these for my rebuild of a different
>engine.
>
>I also don't want to spend a day swapping the heads if I don't have to.
>
>is there any chance in hell that I can run a ceramic block sealer like
>Moroso and seal the head? I'm not talking about Barrs leak stuff. I'm
>talking about the stuff where you flush the system with water, add the
>block sealer, then flush again. Is there anything that can repair a
>hairline leak in a head with the head still in the engine bay?
>
>Or, should I just say "screw it," throw in the towel and swap the heads
>out? Camping season is coming and I plan to travel far and wide with
>the family.
>
>Regards,
>Craig
>
>
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