[Vwdiesel] Oil instead of antifreeze

[LBaird119 at aol.com]

  I've replaced only one or two tensioners on mine.  I've been 
extraordinarily lucky/blessed?  Not like I'm paying someone 
else to do it if it turns up noisy.  ;-)
  Odds are 90%+ that it's the blown oil passage in the head 
gasket.  '81 could have stretch bolts but most likely has the 
standard, 10mm allen/hex head bolts.  You should invest in 
a correct pitch and size tap if you do this and CLEAN and 
scrape the bolt holes out well before reassembly.
  Timing belt would be wise to do as suggested.
  If you put the engine on TDC before pulling the belt you can
put the timing back to where it was with no special tools. :-)  
You can eyeball the cam, use a deep socket for the pump (and 
you have to rotate it up a tad anyway) and just don't tension 
the timing belt too tight.
  Rabbit diesel prices have shot up the last few months!  What 
used to be a $150 dead fixer is now $800 to $1,200 and what 
used to be a decent runner for $1,500 is now $3K or more!  Hmmm, 
time to sell a couple of my VW diesels???  ;-)
     Loren


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