Hey Jeff, That is a very common area to have a crack. Are these AMC or OG VW heads? The OG VW heads are prone to cracking. An easy way to tell is to use a small butane torch to heat that area of the head. Water will begin to "seep" from the previously invisible crack. Of course, if may just be the nut. Cheers, Jeff
-----Original Message----- From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of J Stewart Sent: Sunday, April 13, 2014 4:28 PM To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Subject: Vanagon Head Leaking Around The Head Nut(S) OK I've posted some of this story on Facebook, just got back from Everybus. Condensed version: replaced right side head gasket two weeks ago. Put about 150 miles on the van before leaving Friday for Everybus, no problems (well couple of minor ones). 170 miles into the trip Friday coolant light starts blinking. Pull over, let it cool, top it off and hit the road. 10 miles later blinking again. Do the same. Repeat 3 more times but get to Everybus. Every time I stopped, nothing dripping from the van, engine is dry. Folks are telling me I didn't burp it. I'm skeptical. Today coming home it was low about every 100 miles, light would come on, but now I'm seeing drips from the right side. It "APPEARS", very hard to tell, but it appears to be leaking around one of the upper cylinder head nuts (torqued to 40lbs and I used the yellow goop) With the AFM, air filter, hoses, etc. it is hard to see, but that is what it is looking like. Is it customary to retorque the heads after xxx miles? Longing for an inline 4, Suby, Zetec, just about anything else besides this waterboxer!! Jeff
Jeff Stewart |
Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of
Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection
will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!
Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com
The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.
Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.