Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 12:24:56 -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: Smoke after head replacement
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obviously, certain stages of the job are critical..
and no rushing on those..
like lube the area in the combustion chamber that slides over the green
0-rings with Vaseline,
test fit the head first to see how nicely it slides over the barrels without
the green o-rings,
and make darn sure you never pull a barrel off the piston and rings.
There are bumps on the barrels just for prying them free from the head.
and hope the shop does it really, really right too, now.
Visualize the tech being really deeply focused and meticulous..
and not in some rush fueled by coffee and cigarettes, say.
Scott
www.turbovans.com
a few more days in Honolulu to go on a turbo Subaru-vanagon engine project.
she fired up for the first time last night !
----- Original Message -----
From: "Gregg Carlen" <gregg.carlen@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2012 10:10 AM
Subject: Re: Smoke after head replacement
> Okay, so I finally got time free enough to pull the head again and inspect
> (engine still in the van). The culprit...me.
>
> When I installed the head after replacing the gaskets, I was rushing the
> job and the cylinder sealing rings slipped down and out of position and
> didn't notice that I crushed them while installing the head. Therefore,
> sealing rings not seated properly, exhaust gasses reached the green
> o-rings
> destroying them, allowing coolant into the combustion chamber and out the
> exhaust system. So, mystery solved.
>
> Unfortunately, when I pulled the head the 2nd time to inspect, I wasn't
> careful enough and allowed the sleeves to slip off the piston rings. Very
> sad.
>
> As with any Vanagon, its a matter of time or money and I don't have any
> block of significant time to pull the engine and fix this (not to mention
> other projects I have waiting for my time). So, I towed it off to a local
> VW shop in the area to have the job done right (big check in hand). I
> would
> have loved to have found something like a failed component or cracked head
> or similar, but I've only got myself to kick for it. Just glad I wasn't
> rushing while doing something that could have got me hurt (trying to
> insert
> a postive spin on a bad experience).
>
> Thanks to everyone for your guidance and troubleshooting to focus on the
> right areas and another learning experience with my van.
>
> Gregg
>
>
>
> On Wed, Jan 18, 2012 at 4:36 PM, Dennis Haynes
> <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>wrote:
>
>> As another possibility I had a van towed in with all of these symptoms.
>> Since it was a running engine my first thought was broken stud. None
>> found.
>> In fact all were at torque. Compression and leak down poor on cylinders 1
>> and 2. #1 intake valve leaking bad. I am suspecting a cracked head.
>>
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