[Vwdiesel] New Diesel Guy With a Problem

[LBaird119 at aol.com]

> 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?

  Yup, classic symptoms.  The black is carbon soot from the exhaust
getting into the coolant it sounds like, rather than oil.  :)
  Since it still runs, you may not need to surface the head but it needs
checked since the tolerance for warpage is minimal.

Or is there some less dire explanation?

  Not really.  Hopefully it's the gasket, otherwise it'd have to be a cracked
block or head.  Usually not likely unless it's really been overheated or
the gasket's been changed carlessly.  You need new "stretch" bolts as
well as the proper thickness head gasket (there are 3 possibilities).  Be
SURE to chase out, clean out, blow out the head bolt holes/threads
before reassembly or you run a good chance of cracking the block.
>
>
>  A chronic diesel guy in Seattle.

  You're only 2 1/2 hours from me!  :)
     Loren