Hi all. I'm on a road trip in rural BC with slow internet access. I'll search the archives but insights would be appreciated in case I need to make a choice between driving home or continuing the trip. The short version; after driving a while, I shut off the engine, heard a gurgling sound, saw bubbles passing into the top nipple at the coolant expansion tank. I'm concerned that a cylinder to head seal is failing. I'd heard this gurgling sound before but assumed it was the sound of coolant passing from the fill tank to expansion tank. Before this happened today, I noticed the coolant fill tank was low so added coolant. After driving a short while, then shutting down the engine, the fill tank filled up and excess coolant was spilled through the fill tank vent hole. This seemed normal. After driving about 100 miles, as soon as I shut off the engine, I heard the gurgling sound. I took off the engine lid and saw a steady stream of bubbles coming from the coolant manifold hose to top of the expansion tank. I rebuilt most of the cooling system some time ago. At least 1500 miles ago. I assume the air had bled out some time ago. Am I looking at a compression leak at a cylinder(s) or is it possible there was still air in system due to the cooling system rebuild? I think is is wishful thinking. Ironically, the engine is running quite well! Temp gauge has not shown any change in temps. Thanks Neil.
-- Neil n Blog: Vanagons, Westfalia, general <http://tubaneil.blogspot.ca> 1988 Westy Images <https://picasaweb.google.com/musomuso/New1988Westy> 1981 Westfalia "Jaco" Images, technical <http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/> Vanagon-Bus VAG Gas Engine Swap Group <http://tinyurl.com/khalbay> |
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