[Vwdiesel] New Diesel Guy With a Problem

[Gavrik Peterson]

This is my first post to the diesel list.

I have been driving a diesel rabbit (84' engine) for the last 18
years.  This is the only diesel machine I have known.

Some time ago I noticed that it was using coolant.  I expected to find
a leak but found nothing.  Then I noticed that if the engine was
warmed up, I could hear venting from the cap on the expansion tank.  I
also noticed that when I squeezed the radiator hoses, they seemed to
be under higher pressure then normal.

Next I checked the venting pressure of the cap.  It appeared to be
within spec.  Motivated by guilt, I proceeded to change the coolant.
When doing this I like to clean the residue that coats the bottom of
the expansion tank.  Normally I find residue that is brown in color.
This time the residue was black.  Changing the coolant made no
difference.

Do these symptoms mean that I have a leak (head gasket) that is
allowing high pressure gas from a cylinder to pump up the cooling
system?  Or is there some less dire explanation?


A chronic diesel guy in Seattle.

Gavrik Peterson