Date: Sun, 1 Apr 2007 07:52:51 -0400
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: pressure testing for internal head gasket leak..
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed
Don,
At the point that you can get antifreeze into the cylinder area, you have a
fairly large leak. This needs to fixed ASAP as the antifreeze will cause the
piston to self destruct and any traces of antifreeze in the oil will destroy
the bearings due to corrosion. Yes, heated antifreeze and air make for an
extremely corrosive situation. This is the real cause of Vanagon head
pitting and it does not matter what type of antifreeze is used. The inline
engines are also known for cracked heads, right between the valve seats.
Dennis
>From: Don Hanson <dhanson@GORGE.NET>
>Reply-To: Don Hanson <dhanson@GORGE.NET>
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: pressure testing for internal head gasket leak..
>Date: Sat, 31 Mar 2007 19:57:50 -0800
>
>This may have been mentioned before, if so, sorry to waste bandwidth, but I
>am new here.
>
>Recently, I needed to figure out if my head gasket was leaking (this was
>an inline 4 motor transplant into my van, but should be the same on a
>waterboxer) so, being a simple guy, I looked it over and came up with a
>simple solution for a simple test. I took out the sparkplugs and then put
>some compressed air into the pressure tank. I disconnected the hose to the
>expansion tank and just put my air nozzle right onto that hose barb..There
>is a one way valve there to keep the pressure in, so I dialed up 20psi from
>my compressor and filled her up with air. Started using my bicycle pump,
>but the compressor came to mind and made it even easier.
>
> Then, I went back to the cylinders and used a tube from my vacuum
>cleaner to listen for hissing, dripping, any sounds of leaking...Nothing
>there... but then I took a little dental mirror and worked around with a
>flashlight until I got some light into each plug hole..I saw some orange
>(Dextron coolant color) on one piston. Reached in with a pipette (small
>tube) and drew out some coolant...
>
> Poorman's leak down test? Anyhow, it worked for me..The bike pump
>almost fits right onto the hose barb, but the air nozzel from my
>compressor, I just pushed the ends together and got the air past the one
>way valve into the system..
> Again, sorry if someone else has written this up already (probably have)
> Don Hanson
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