Date:         Tue, 5 Aug 2008 16:07:33 +0000
Reply-To:     ckelmo1@COMCAST.NET
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Cecil Eastman <ckelmo1@COMCAST.NET>
Subject:      Re: Leaky valve cover tip of iceberg

I know that I don't have water going into the oil, because I checked and added fresh oil (due to the leak, naturally) a few days ago.  But I haven't checked the coolant for contamination or air so I'll do that next.

What else?

-------------- Original message --------------
From: Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>

> Wow. Your car reminds me of the joke where the doctor names off all these
> body fluid samples that he's going to need from the patient, who replies
> "I'm in a hurry, doc. Can I just leave you with my underwear?"
> All the stuff you mention is annoying, to say the least, except for the part
> about the coolant in the oil, which could be catastrophic, or at least it is
> pointing to a catastrophe if that's in fact what it is.
>
> So what's the problem, exactly? Do you find oil in your coolant (look under
> the coolant cap and inspect the contents of the tank) or is there water in
> your oil (a greyish-brown mess on your dipstick)? If you already know you're
> leaking oil on the case through a hole in the valve cover, it may be that
> you also have a coolant leak via a rubber head gasket and it's mixing with
> the oil on the outside of the engine. Let's hope.
>
> To find out more, start the car in the morning (or sometime it is completely
> cold) and let it run for no more than 30 seconds. Then shut it off and
> remove the coolant cap. If you hear a burp, you need a cylinder head gasket
> or new heads. If you don't, then you probably just need rubber head gaskets
> and to clean up the rest of all those leaks. I can tell you from experience
> that it's a good time to take care of all that other stuff when the car is
> down for rubber head gaskets. If you pull the engine to do it, you can take
> care of that leaking transmission seal properly, too.
>
> Jim
>
> On Tue, Aug 5, 2008 at 10:07 AM, Cecil Eastman wrote:
>
> > This is from that Pampers-wearin' 85 Westy again.
> >
> > Good news: I seem to have fixed the annoying drip of ATF from the tranny by
> > adding some thickener to the fluid.
> >
> > Bad news: The power steering lines are still leaking like a sieve,
> > regardless of the viscosity of the fluid. I'm thinking I'll have to try
> > Ken's replacement hydraulic lines for the rusty metal ones.
> >
> > Worse news: The oil leak at the valve head still leaks after replacing the
> > gaskets, at least on the driver's side. I did notice a small hole rusted
> > through the valve head right at the gasket, so that may be the culprit, but
> > that ain't all. Turns out that the leaking fluid is a mixture of oil and
> > coolant. So am I looking at a cylinder head job here, or hopefully just
> > some seals? I don't know what other criteria I should be checking to see if
> > the heads themselves are bad.
> >
> > All guidance is gratefully appreciated.
> >
> > Cecil
> > '85 Westy
> >