Date: Thu, 18 Feb 2016 23:23:33 -0500
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Winter storage leaking heads seals
In-Reply-To: <CAAzKkH_Kt9kPRPJRCsgQWjd-p-zRp9O8Up-8TJ28QBhx-AxXBA@mail.gmail.com>
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When heads are installed it is normal practice to use an sealant-adhesive on both sides of the outer gasket. If there is seepage due to cold weather or whatever that is a sign that the sealant has failed. The corrosion that occurs under the gasket is not due to old or incorrect antifreeze. There should not be any coolant there. The corrosion occurs when the coolant the gets between the head and gasket is exposed to air especially when it is heated. Add some winter road salt or the other de-icing chemicals and over time you get a real mess. Eventually the corrosion will get large enough that it will push on the gasket even cutting into it. This is when you get those sudden catastrophic failures. For small leaks it is normal and part of the design for the make-up coolant to be drawn from the reserve reservoir.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of T Collins
Sent: Thursday, February 18, 2016 11:06 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Winter storage leaking heads seals
I think that Spencer maybe talking about the actual coolant bottle and not the one behind the license plate (Spencer please correct me if Im wrong).
My personal experiences with my 85 tin top tells me so. During winter my right head (passenger side) will start leaking. The colder it gets the more it leaks and the coolant bottle fluid level drops the longer it sits. The engine does not seem to be loosing power, but not watching the coolant level could surely fry it (IMHO)
I would like to see more replies to the question that Spencer posed about resealing the heads and if that solved the issues of those with this type of issue during cold winters. Also for those that went down that road: Did they find that the head was so pitted that a replacement head was needed?
Thanks,
Tony
On Thu, Feb 18, 2016 at 5:39 PM, Larry Alofs <lalofs@gmail.com> wrote:
> The leakage is from the rubber water jacket seal which you can see and
> touch if you remove the engine tin below the pushrod tubes. It is
> often called the head gasket (incorrectly in my opinion). The actual
> head gasket which withstands the compression is a narrow metal ring
> between the head and the cylinder; it probably is not leaking.
>
> If the heads fit properly against the case with the correct gap at the
> water jacket, a new rubber seal there should stop your leaking. There
> may be some pitting of the edge of the water jacket on the head. Some
> volks fill this with JB weld; others use gasket sealant like the "Right Stuff".
>
> In any case there is no need to change to different heads, assuming
> there are no other troubles with valves, etc.
>
> I am not sure that it is possible for coolant to be lost from the
> refill bottle behind the license plate while the van is just standing
> in storage, unless your coolant cap is letting it thru easily.
>
> Larry A.
>
>
> On Thu, Feb 18, 2016 at 4:15 PM, Spencer Allen <spencervw@aol.com> wrote:
>
> > So every year (for last 15 years) when the 85 westy is put under
> > the cover for winter I have watched for drips on the ground cover in
> > the garage. There has always been some drips from both heads but not
> > enough
> to
> > cause panic. Years back my then new 85 GL tintop had drips right
> > away but like the westy now the leaks would go away (not completely)
> > when the weather warmed up. Anyway I just checked and there are
> > bigger than normal-about a large shot glass full- drip stains this
> > winter on the cardboard ground cover with coolant drops gathered on
> > either side of
> engine
> > tin and case. the coolant in bottle is below lower mark. Would new
> > head gaskets & seals stop this annual event? If I remember from some
> > ways back that the new seals available won't cure the original heads from leaking.
> > Any suggestions or tips?
> > Sorry to be wearing this list out with my problems. Thanks.
> >
> > Spencer
> >
>
