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Date:         Mon, 8 Dec 2008 12:59:01 -0800
Reply-To:     Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject:      Re: Head Gasket Repair 91GL
Comments: To: Michael Sullivan <sandwichhead@GMAIL.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
              reply-type=original

I also find that the exhaust valves are leaking a little.... or one of them per head is common. A low tech way to check that is , with the head off, fill the exhaust ports, one at a time.......with the head standing on end, with gasoline or kerosene, and see if it leaks through the valve. If it leaks through in say half an hour.........that valve is leaking. If it holds overnight, it's not leaking of course.

I recommend a basic valve job any time a head is off. and that gap between block and bottom of head...........you want to measure that carefully with the head installed with metal rings, but no gasket, and make sure that gap is not too small or too big. I've seen two AMC heads now that did not sit flat on the block.......that gap wasn't the same across the block, and it pinched the water retention gasket towards one end......one gasket job failed that way in 12,000 miles.........due to poor dimensions on the AMC head .... so pay careful attention there, though you've probably not had a problem there on your engine and likely don't need to worry. But I have found out ...........it won't always work properly long term, to just slap in new head gaskets. I measure the thickness of the new rubber gasket........ it's 4.5 mm I think.............but check yours, and I go for 1 mm of gasket compression. I've seen a VW head ( not AMC ) go on..........with not enough rubber gasket compression, and it leaked after a while. oh, lastly, I use Toyota black sealant, not the VW stuff, with excellent results. sell a tube of that to anyone that's interested. Bit expensive, but I trust it totally for oil and coolant sealing. Excellent results now for about 10 years of using that stuff. I also put it on both sides of the rubber out water-retention gasket. < Bentley or instructions with the gasket set says just the head side > Scott www.turbovans.com

----- Original Message ----- From: "Michael Sullivan" <sandwichhead@GMAIL.COM> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> Sent: Monday, December 08, 2008 12:07 PM Subject: Head Gasket Repair 91GL

> Checking a small leak under the van and found a couple of oil drips under > the right side. Looks like the head gasket. Also saw a small drip of > coolant > off the metal shield. I AM a little down on coolant. > Will check my Bentley after work, but wanted to do other maintenance that > might be easy to do at the same time. Noticed a small seepage near PS unit > banjo bolt, but not bad at all. I will check last time head gasket has > been > replaced by PO. > Already have the valve gaskets. > Thanks, Michael. > > -- > Michael in San Antonio > 91GL AT 'Gringo' > > ------------------------------------------------------------ > + To unsubscribe from the Vanagon List send an e-mail to > + listserv@gerry.vanagon.com with SIGNOFF VANAGON > + in the body of the message. > ------------------------------------------------------------

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