[Vwdiesel] Oh-Oh...First winter **** up!

[James Hansen]

Just for future reference, the oil light coming on usually means "stop and
look", not "drive on".  Carry a litre of oil with you stashed in the van.

Gradually increasing levels of oil in the coolant expansion tank generally
are signs of a failed head gasket.   The extra sealing copper ring on the
head gasket around the oil passage gets old and leaks to the coolant, and
replacement is the only option.  While it is possible that the oil cooler
leaks, it is unlikely.

Hopefully your head isn't warped from the overheating.  Since the hose
split, and your oil light was on, I would venture a guess that the head
gasket has failed- cylinder pressure killed the top hose (check or replace
your coolant tank cap- it should have released the pressure)  and perhaps
the oil passage is compromised as well which may explain the low oil
pressure.  Before you run it any more, check to be sure there is no coolant
at the bottom of the oil pan.  Just loosen the oil drain plug so it is
almost but not quite out to see if coolant weeps out or oil.

Making up a copper T will be okay, only if the rest of the hose is in good
shape.  No, make that if the old one is in PERFECT shape.  Never patch rad
hoses except in an emergency.  If it blows at the wrong time, it gets
costly, far far more than the cost of a new hose.

What else to do... how many km on just the engine?
Have a look at the rings, and you might need a head rebuild.  Haard to say
without opengin it up.  Doing a compression test before you rebuild is a
fairly good guide of ring health, but that has to be done warm, and no sense
in repairing and refilling with coolant just so you can take it apart
again...

-James

-----Original Message-----
From: vwdiesel-bounces at vwfans.com [mailto:vwdiesel-bounces at vwfans.com]On
Behalf Of rod welch
Sent: Monday, November 08, 2004 3:49 AM
To: vwdiesel at vwfans.com
Subject: [Vwdiesel] Oh-Oh...First winter **** up!


Hello all...  Thought I need to ask the crew a few specifics before digging
in the archives...
Transporter 1.6,(no turbo) 1983, 350 000km.
Late last night we left to drive my wife to the railway station (about
100kms) and as we were leaving I noticed the oil light didn't quite go off
(first time this has happend)... Knew there's a garage about 5km away to get
some oil, halfway there the light went out, we stopped for oil, they didn't
have any left, so as the light was off and only had to do another 12km to
the next garage, we carried on. About 7km down the road the temp went
through the roof, warning light flashing and the back of the van was like a
sauna...! The top hose had split, (between expansion tank and head and rest
of system) this is a nasty, expensive looking, multi directional piece of
****.

And so to my first question... If I make up a T from copper pipe to replace
the junctions in the main hose will the anti-freeze do weird things? (this
is one for the chemists)

And second question... What happend? When I checked it this morning, (don't
ask how I got it home...) the oil level was fine? It wasn't that cold.
(round about freezing) Replaced the water pump and belts last year.
There has been more and more crap in the coolant this past year and the
expansion tank I replaced in the summer, 'cos the old one split, is now
really black and greasy on the inside...

So what next... should I really pull the head off before it goes completely?
No power or smoke problems... Still does 110km/h on the flat and 60 up hill
(8% over 2km). If I do pull the head, what else should I do while I'm in
there?

Thanks for being here....

Rod...Finland

 




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