Date: Thu, 31 Oct 2013 22:13:52 -0400
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Head Damage?
In-Reply-To: <0AB620BFD12C4887BC7461DC2A7927F7@GaryPC>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Combustion gasses getting into the cooling system can be a cracked head or
more commonly the heads are actually loose. Under load they are lifting off
the cylinders and letting gasses into the cooling system. In the air cooled
days you could actually hear loose heads. Often it sounded like an exhaust
problem.
Leaks of this type are difficult to diagnose and you won't detect them with
a compression test. Using compressed air into a cylinder set with the valves
closed, TDC may blow back into the cooling system if the leak is real bad.
You will also be able to detect if you have a valve or piston problem. If
you are getting combustion gasses into the coolant, then you are likely
getting coolant into the cylinders. Oil analysis will pick that up. The
needs to be fixed before you destroy bearings or put holes into the pistons.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Gary Peebles
Sent: Thursday, October 31, 2013 5:04 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Head Damage?
Red light time for Damages heads
Well, over the last year I have had the red light on three times with
blown hoses. So I have fixed leaky thermostat housing, leaky distribution
unit, changed the clogged radiator. This engine has 70+ k on it. A rebuilt
GoWesty 2.2l. put in in 4-17-2009, I replaced all of the coolant hoses,
also. Long story short, I have had mistreated the coolant system while in
South American and in storage down there. Had it filled with water only,
most of the time.
It has been a little over two years back in the states with the proper
coolant back in it. My mechanic said that my system is tight, no leaks or
compression gasses detected. Had a pressure check, a leak down test, and a
compression check, and I also checked the expansion tank for exhaust
gases(negative). The Passenger side head that blew a gasket from over
heating from a blown hose is only getting 120 psi in both cylinders (#1, and
#2).[ I had that head check for damage, mechanic in Calgary, Alberta, said
that there was no damage that he could see.] The drivers side , #3 is
getting 150 psi, #4 is getting 170 psi. It is currently running a little
hot, meaning the first level rad fan comes on earlier than it used to. I
have noticed that I am having to bleed the radiator of air often. I have
changed the blue pressure cap. It only suck water from the overflow tank
just after I have bleed it. When I take an hour trip or more the running
temp seems to go from the middle of the red light to just past it. Then I
check the expansion tank reservoir and there is air in it to almost the
first return hose inlet. If I run the van at 3800 rpm to 4,000 rpm it fills
up with air, more quickly than if I keep the rpms down to around 3000 to
3400 over time. When the expansion tank is filled up with air the overflow
cap won't refill the that space from the top up tank. When I was thinking
that I was running hot( temp gauge reading just above the red light
position) , after a 50 mile drive, I had my mechanic check the temperatures
of the rad Normal-187, thermostat housing-187, water pump 190, and both
heads 190. I had just bleed the system the day before so the expansion tank
was full, no air gap. My mechanic thinks I am over reacting.
For some reason it seems the system is just not keeping up with the
heat. So yesterday I changed out the Thermostat. I checked out the old
Thermostat and it opened, slowly and not very much at the boiling point. I
also checked out the new one and it opened quickly and seemed to have a
larger opening. I also noticed that the old thermostat Meryle?, was a bit
taller than the new Wahler? both German made. I ran the engine and gauge
showed mid level and didn't seem to climb. As I revved the engine to 2500
rpm for a minute or more, I noticed bubbles filling the expansion tank, hm.
I think I might have had two problems, the thermostat being one of them.
What is causing air to get into the coolant system? Do I have a small
crack somewhere in a head? Or am I missing another possibility?
Frustrated,
Gary Peebles
Seal Beach, Ca.
and Paco(our Westy)
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