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Date:         Mon, 7 Apr 2014 10:52:03 -0500
Reply-To:     JRodgers <jrodgers113@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         JRodgers <jrodgers113@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: The Head is Off, Assume Cracked?
Comments: To: Paul Smith <paulwithwesty@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <CAAymtAbnq8k6W7fXUc1WFOq3gADRjhZHg9N6TzfxBKLKy-+SEg@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Paul,

With the head out - take it to a machine shop an have them clean it thoroughly, then do a dye-penetrant check for cracks. That test will show for sure if cracks exist!

John

On 4/7/2014 9:45 AM, Paul Smith wrote: > This thread really started about a week ago, as detailed in my post on > March 30th: "Replacing the Head Gaskets (Maybe the Head)?" - so I won't > repeat it all here. The vehicle is an 1989 Westy, 2.1 WBX, started with > white smoke a few minutes after startup, returned to the driveway and later > when I pulled the spark plugs I found coolant in the passenger side front > cylinder.. I did manage to get the passenger side head off, going slowly > and carefully and with the expected pain points (exhaust system, etc.). The > problem cylinder was the front cylinder and it was stuck firmly to the > head, requiring use of the methods noted in Bentley and on this list to > finally free it. The sealing o-ring at the top of the front cylinder looked > damaged (or deteriorated) compared to the same o-ring on the rear cylinder, > which appeared to be in good shape. I thought I might have a cause, except > that the compression gaskets in the head both looked good, no apparent > damage or discoloration. I have no evidence that the coolant system was > being pressurized by exhaust gases, only somehow coolant was entering the > front cylinder. I don't see any cracks in the cylinder head combustion area > (hairline or larger), although I have not cleaned all the carbon deposits > off. Both exhaust ports look about as expected, fine coating of black > carbon, with the front port slightly "damper" or more oily. The intake > ports revealed an oddity. The rear (good) intake port looked about as > expected, clean metal with a light oily sheen. The front (bad) cylinder > intake had a coating of grey slimy stuff covering a good part of the back > curve of the intake passage and up around the valve guide area. I was > wiping it out without thinking how odd it was (long day) when I stopped. It > seems unlikely that coolant would be blown up into the intake from the > cylinder (valve is primarily open on the downstroke), but coolant leaking > into the intake passage would certainly be sucked into the cylinder. If it > were being sprayed in from crack in the head it might also form a coating > on the hot intake passage walls. I guessing that this may have been > developing over time, as Dennis Haynes mentioned. I took a close look at > the piston tops - the rear had a light coating of combustion/carbon > deposits; the front piston had some, but is fairly clean (steamed clean?) > in the center portion. The cylinder walls look good in both, smooth, > unscored and not scorched or discolored. > Has anyone experienced a crack like this in the head into an intake > passage? I can't see anything obvious, but without removing the valve and > getting a good view angle I might not. Still might not find anything > visually in any case. I tried briefly to block all the coolant passages and > apply pressure to detect a leak - couldn't get a good seal. All this is > being done in my driveway, no garage, so my shop facilities are limited. I > can't understand how a grey coating could be formed in the front cylinder > head intake passage without a leak of some kind, along with the clear entry > of coolant into the cylinder. Both intake tubes upstream of the head seem > fine (the same). The driver side intakes are also fine. > It seems like a replacement head may be the best option at this point. I'm > not sure I can find the cause, although it pretty clearly appears to be in > the head. I would rather install a new head than try any partial repair or > patch. Then if I get curious enough I can pull apart the bad head and see > what I find. > Thoughts? > > Thanks, > Paul >


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