Date:         Tue, 5 Aug 2008 20:39:51 -0400
Reply-To:     Ken Wilford <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Ken Wilford <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
Subject:      Re: Leaky valve cover tip of iceberg
Comments: To: ckelmo1@COMCAST.NET
In-Reply-To:  <080520081507.10207.48986CAD000A85E6000027DF2216554886CE0103040A050C@comcast.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Are you sure it is coolant?  Do you see any nasty chocolate milk looking
stuff on your dip stick?  Many times you can get condensation in the
valve cover area so that you may have just a little emulsion right at
the valve cover but it is not necessarily coolant mixing with the oil.
If you do have coolant mixing with oil then please do not run the motor
any more until you get it fixed.  It will only hurt the engine more.
Let me know if I can be of service.

Ken Wilford
John 3:16
www.vanagain.com


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
>
>