[Vwdiesel] New Diesel Guy With a Problem

[Doyt W. Echelberger]

That's what it meant on my 85 Jetta TD a few years ago. I took off the
head, had it resurfaced, and replaced with a new head gasket. No more problems.

There is a way to check for combustion gases in the coolant. Device fits in
place of reservoir cap, holds blue fluid. gases in reservoir bubble through
the fluid and it turns yellow the bubbles are combustion gases. Any engine
mechanic knows about or has one of these kits, and you can easily find one
and run your tests to verify the origin of the gases.

Doyt Echelberger

 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
At 12:01 AM 8/4/2003 -0700, you wrote:
>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
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