Date: Sun, 8 Jan 2012 21:07:47 -0500
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Smoke after head replacement
In-Reply-To: <CAK-ud2jGG3dprrE1_Q-Y7io6WVq=DErUEAEkWDWu_bRU+o+R2w@mail.gmail.com>
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For starters that engine is running really bad. Find which cylinder is not
firing. You may have a push rod that is not seated properly in the lifter
keeping a valve open. That will also keep some unburned fuel going into the
exhaust.
Shortly after a major engine repair a compression/leak down test should be
performed again to confirm the success of the repairs. Check to make sure
that coolant is not now getting into the cylinders. This will quickly
damage the cylinders and pistons. Coolant in the oil will also damage the
bearings.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Gregg Carlen
Sent: Sunday, January 08, 2012 2:16 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Smoke after head replacement
Hi folks,
Similar to Todd Last's collapsed lifter that he shared a video about, I've
got a similar situation on my 91 Westy. Oh yeah, I'm in Oakton, VA.
I had the classic water gasket leaking coolant. I removed the passenger side
head with engine in the van, cleaned it up, checked it for leaking using
Scott's recommendation to check the valve guides using gas (I used parts
cleaner instead of gas with no signs of leaking along the valve
guides) and reinstalled. Did the fuel lines while I was on that side of the
van as well. New gromets, gaskets, etc all the way around, nothing rubber
reused. (I repalced the green o-rings on the cylinders, but no the black
one's back inside the engine since I didn't remove the cylinder sleeves).
So, all back together, she fires right up on the first try. Usual bleeding
of the coolant, etc.
Now, as I expected, there should be some smoke as oil/coolant that may have
gottent to places it shouldn't have. There was. A lot of it. I thought at
first it might be a collapsed lifter (one was squishy when I put the push
rods back in). However, I don't have the knocking sound that Todd had in his
video, just lots of smoke.
I've run it about 10 minutes total and still no change. I'm wondering if
I've managed to mess something up and actually have coolant getting into the
combusion process.
Any advice as to what to check first? Or, just need to run it more? I did
NOT adjust the valves, just replaced the assemble as I had taken it off.
Perhaps I need to go through the valve adjustment process? (Although I don't
here anything abnormal from that area).
A short video is here:
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=113741720077010029753&target=AL
BUM&id=5695338093044400273&authkey=Gv1sRgCIeJqISt-qiL5gE&feat=email
Gregg
Blueberry - 91 Westy (2.1L stock)
Oakton, VA
