Date:         Wed, 17 Mar 2004 11:18:23 -0700
Reply-To:     Fred Brittain <vanpire@CITLINK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Fred Brittain <vanpire@CITLINK.NET>
Subject:      Overheated, head gaskets blown, etc
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Volks,

I drove my '89 Westy into an extreme overheat situation. . .
The coolant was pretty well drained. Interestingly, the first
observable equipment failure was the temp sensor from the
expansion tank laying on the metal tray in front of the tail light
assembly. More interesting was that the wire was not connected
and it still didn't fall off. It was off  because I replaced the sensor
and the connectors were not compatible. It would stay on for
extended periods and fall off. Several check for leaks led me
to believe everything was ok. I didn't have the correct connector
to splice in, excuses, excuses. I'm going to pay for my laziness.

Took the push rod tube cover off  just now and the right side head
gasket seems to have been boiled. Pouring water into the expansion
tank runs right out both sides of the block indicating both head gaskets
are gone.

My first question is what caused the engine to overheat in the first place.
Did it get hot and 'blow' the sensor out? Did the sensor become
unthreaded and fall out allowing loss of coolant and resultant
head gasket problems? I can detect no coolant leaks other than
head gaskets and the sensor hole in the top of the expansion tank.

The engine starts and sounds ok. I pulled over and had it towed
as soon as I smelled/heard something wrong.
How can I detect serious damage? Guess I'll start with a compression
check since that's about all I can think to do without pulling the heads.

Any advice about how to proceed would be greatly appreciated.


Fred
89 Westy