Date: Tue, 8 Feb 2011 08:11:20 -0600
Reply-To: "Jerry Baker (Guido)" <jbvelo@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "Jerry Baker (Guido)" <jbvelo@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Subject: Re: Leaking coolant 1.9L
In-Reply-To: <AANLkTi=0=5VE6G9W4QA7Wr18M9cQOPT3+WD4znbDdBP+@mail.gmail.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
There is a hose between the thermostat housing
and the drivers side head. Sometimes this hose will
leak and the coolant will transfer and drip from the
engine tin. It will look like the leak is coming from the
cylinder head perimeter seal. Look closely at the hose
between the thermo housing and the drivers side head.
The bad news is the leak may be coming from the drivers side
cylinder head perimeter seal. A pretty easy fix.
Even worse is that there is coolant leaking internally into the
exhaust ports and exhaust system. At worst you may have a cracked cylinder
head. But rule everything else out first.
Is there any coolant getting into the crankcase??
If coolant is getting into the exhaust you may have coolant
leaking into the cylinder which means there will be coolant on top of
the piston. Pull the crankcase oil drain plug. See if there is
coolant present at the bottom of the crankcase. Any coolant getting
into the engine internally will accumulate in the crankcase.
Is the engine oil milky looking?
Does the engine oil dipstick have a lot of moisture (water drops)
on it when removed from the engine?
Does your engine overheat?
Have you done a compression test on all cylinders?
JB KY
88 GL
84 Westy
On 2/8/11 12:01 AM, "craig cowan" <phishman068@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> I would say "yes", an internal leak can come in many phases. However, if
> it's a visible leak from the exhaust, that's quite an internal leak.
> However, that's exactly what it sounds like to me. It's generally not "That"
> hard a fix. If it's in the worse case, you may need different (But not
> necessarily 'new' heads).
>
> -Craig
> '87 SUNROOF Syncro
> '85 GL turned Westy
> Bostig in the back
>
>
>
> On Mon, Feb 7, 2011 at 11:26 PM, David White <sirgrumpsalot@gmail.com>wrote:
>
>> I've got an 84 vanagon with a 1.9L engine with unknown hours of run
>> time. I just returned from a 400 mile trip and in those miles I never
>> stopped to look at the engine because things sounded fine. The temp
>> gauge works and it never gave me any indication things were getting
>> bad. Sitting in the driveway overnight it is now leaking coolant from
>> the driver's side through the tin that protects the pushrods. The
>> water pump and thermostat areas are bone dry. When I start the engine
>> coolant drips out the rear exhaust port (closest to the muffler)
>> immediately, but I haven't run the engine to temp. I am waiting in
>> line to borrow a leak down tester at the local auto parts store. My
>> question is: can I have a bad head gasket without any symptoms (such
>> as overheating, white smoke, loss of power)? Am I just not noticing
>> the symptoms?
>>
