Date: Sun, 8 Jul 2007 01:13:23 -0400
Reply-To: Benny boy <huotb@VIDEOTRON.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Benny boy <huotb@VIDEOTRON.CA>
Subject: Re: Sudden head gasket coolant catastrophic leaking
What did you use between head gasket and head?
How was the old head before you put this one back in? Was it cracked, was it
tested?
2 reasons, bad sealing or bad/cracked head, period.
A clasic problem!
Ben
On Sat, 7 Jul 2007 16:54:21 -0700, Thomas Pfrommer <pfrommer@PHAS.UBC.CA> wrote:
>Hi,
>oh man, I thought my van is running now. Did it for about 1500km, but
>today suddenly lost all its coolant, luckily a guy behind me on the
>highway called my attention right away. I did not see anything and the
>water temp did not yet rise. Well I pulled over the next exit. Again
>lucky was only 500m away, and then the temp gauge was rising quickly. So
>to the next parking lot and shut down the engine before it overheats!
>But what the hack was going on? Temp was always good, never reved it
>above 3000 rpm in these first 1500km. Oil pressure was good (yes the
>installed oil gauge is working fine ;-))
>And suddenly I loose all my water. After waiting to let the engine cool
>down a bot, I was able to look and lie underneath the engine and saw
>that the head gasket was pushed out for about 0.5 inch and thats where
>it leak. I added a bit of distilled water in the expansion tank and it
>pulled out right away right at this point (at the rear end of the right
>head, about midway between top and bottom of the head). What could have
>happened? When I rebuilt the engine, I torqued the heads to the specs
>indicated in the Bentley. I inspected the studs and they did not seem to
>be in bad shape so I did not replace them. Is this an indication that
>one stud broke? Yesterday I drove and was in a traffic jam and it was
>very hot, but everything worked fine, the water temp never rose more
>then just above the light position.
>I don't know but thats kind of weired. Perhaps not for you experts, but
>for me, as it drove without problems up to this point. I changed the
>expansion head cap just two days before as well, and all water was in,
>not indication of a small leak anywhere.
>Well I am quite frustrated now, I must admit, just thought I let you
>know, perhaps you have some advice. The thing is I do not have much time
>now to fix this major thing. I am quite busy at work. Do you Vancouver
>guys have a good recommendation, where to put it? I let it tow to
>Blenheim at 12th/Arbutus, just because I heard they are very nice guys.
>So I assume they don't rip me off. But perhaps there are other places?
>Anyway have a nice week-end and enjoy the sun, I have to recover a bit
>form this disappointment today though.
>Cheers
>Thomas
| 
