Stranded on the way to ALASKA!

Wildthings · Samba Member Joined: March 13, 2005 Posts: 50352

The concave valve stem ends will cause less problems with hydraulic lifters than with solids. With solids you can no longer get the valve adjustment set even remotely close to where it is supposed to be so will have noisy valves and a loss of lift and power.

If you wanted to you could stuff rags all around the valve springs and retainers and lightly touch up the ends of the stems with a Dremel.

HastaAlaska · Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2015 7:32 am Post subject:

HastaAlaska · Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2015 3:34 pm Post subject:

North America has been quite the adventure so far, if you want to see what happened in video, I put together this page so you can check it out:

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

http://kombilife.com/travel-adventure-vlog-vw-bus-road-trip-usa-canada/
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Hasta Alaska Series - https://kombilife.com/hasta-alaska/
World Overland Series - https://kombilife.com/world-overland-travel-series/
Latest Adventures - https://www.youtube.com/@kombilife

skills@eurocarsplus · Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2015 3:42 pm Post subject:

3 years 10 engine rebuilds....I would have given up after #2.

it sure has been a hell of a trip, huh?
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HastaAlaska · Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2015 3:47 pm Post subject:

HastaAlaska · Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2015 12:57 pm Post subject: Leaky pulley

Hey guys I'm in mcbride BC

I know we've discussed this problem before but I have a fair amount of oil coming out from behind the pulley. It's spraying every which way and consumption is notable.

Other than blocked breather, which it doesn't seem to be, and worn rings cause if the case to pressurize is there any other possible causes of oil coming oh from behind the pulley?

I have 30,000km on this engine with the same rings that were new. I'm still getting decent performance out of the engine. And oil pressure is normal. Around 40psi on ththe highway. I just need to know if this is the only 2 causes of this problem or if there is somewhere else that I should look.

Thanks very much.
Ben
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Around The World in a VW - Follow the Docuseries
2011 - PRESENT
Hasta Alaska Series - https://kombilife.com/hasta-alaska/
World Overland Series - https://kombilife.com/world-overland-travel-series/
Latest Adventures - https://www.youtube.com/@kombilife

HastaAlaska · Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2015 7:28 pm Post subject:

Thoughts of pulling my engine and putting in new rings have been going around my head all day. Can't imagine that job will be much fun on the Alaskan highway. What do you think guys? Perhaps a compression test to confirm if there is the rings are giving out?
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Around The World in a VW - Follow the Docuseries
2011 - PRESENT
Hasta Alaska Series - https://kombilife.com/hasta-alaska/
World Overland Series - https://kombilife.com/world-overland-travel-series/
Latest Adventures - https://www.youtube.com/@kombilife

airschooled · Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2015 7:41 pm Post subject:

Can you give us a current engine setup picture with an emphasis on the breather system?

A compression test is free if you can find someone with a tester, though a leak-down test is more comprehensive. You may have blow-by through the valve guides; do you know the history of the heads? Some breathers aren't up to the task of a worn engine combined with other mods.

Robbie
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Wildthings · Samba Member Joined: March 13, 2005 Posts: 50352

How old is your oil? Sometimes oil will begin to foam with age and can leak out any and everywhere.

I have had top of the line oils do this decades back. Don't know whether they just failed to add sufficient anti-foaming agents or what. Makes an incredible mess of the engine compartment when it happens.

HastaAlaska · Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2015 4:14 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the replies, I am having trouble with the upload to get the picture of the breather with you. this internet connection is very slow.

There is quite a bit of oil, it is all over the roof of the engine compartment, and pooling on the tin. It was installed 4000 kms ago.

I just changed it out to see if there is any difference.

The history of the heads were that they were reworked 30,000kms ago when I built it, installed with new guides and valves.

If I still have a leak I will do a compression test at the next town which will be Dawson Creek.

I couldn't smell any sign of Gas in the oil, so I don't think that it is getting past the rings. A hand crank of the engine shows good and equal compression on each cylinder. (I know that is not ideal, but the best I have at the side of the road right now)

I could really use some help making the right decision here guys, I don't want to head all the way up to Alaska with this much of an oil leak and don't have time for a rebuild.

I will keep you posted with the developments but please check back and help me decide what the best course of action is.

right now I have breather issues or Ring wear pressurizing the case.

do you think I could drive without the filler cap to eliminate any possible issues with the breather? Or is that a bad idea?

thanks so much
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2011 - PRESENT
Hasta Alaska Series - https://kombilife.com/hasta-alaska/
World Overland Series - https://kombilife.com/world-overland-travel-series/
Latest Adventures - https://www.youtube.com/@kombilife

GTV · Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2015 7:11 pm Post subject:

You could drive without the filler cap as a test, but I wouldn't do it for a long time or on a dirt road.
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HastaAlaska · Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2015 12:48 pm Post subject:

Hey guys,

Good news, the leak seems to be under control.

I believe that the leak was actually coming from a crack in the back of the filler tube. It was running down the back of the alternator stand, out of sight and coming down behind the pulley which was doing a fantastic job of spreading it in every conceivable place in the engine bay.

I've patched the leak with silicone and changed the oil in case that was a problem.

I'm so happy to report that the leak is under control, I was really worried there. Power still seems good and we had a whole day of driving yesterday without any breakdowns. Imagine that a whole day of driving without a breakdown!!!!

Unfortunately we woke up today with 20psi in one of the tires. So now we are dealing with that in rainy Fort Nelson (norther BC) along with more mosquitoes than I have seen in my entire life!

Thanks for your support. Please stay tuned, I doubt this is the last time that I will need some friendly advice on this trip.

Cheers

Ben
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Around The World in a VW - Follow the Docuseries
2011 - PRESENT
Hasta Alaska Series - https://kombilife.com/hasta-alaska/
World Overland Series - https://kombilife.com/world-overland-travel-series/
Latest Adventures - https://www.youtube.com/@kombilife

HastaAlaska · Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2015 4:39 pm Post subject: TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS - HELP!!!!

Guys I've never dealt with any problems with the transmission and noticed the last 2 days of driving that it was noisy, it's also leaking.

I just arrived in ALASKA, like 10 minutes ago so that is the good news, but there are very limited supplies and I don't have the tool for the job.

Please help with any advice. I am going to look around town to see if I can get some 80W90 oil and a 17mm allen
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Around The World in a VW - Follow the Docuseries
2011 - PRESENT
Hasta Alaska Series - https://kombilife.com/hasta-alaska/
World Overland Series - https://kombilife.com/world-overland-travel-series/
Latest Adventures - https://www.youtube.com/@kombilife

Millennium Falcon · Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2015 6:05 pm Post subject:

If you can not find an actual 17mm socket to remove the trans fill and drain plug where you are find a bolt with a 17mm head and 2 nuts. Thread both nuts onto the bolt and jam them as tight as possible together by wrenching them hard into each other as close to the bolt head as you can. Now you have your 17mm jam-nut. Use your wrench on the inner nut to remove the plug. Most often this fix works. Good luck.
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Heathintexas · Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2015 6:41 pm Post subject:

grtfldan · Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2015 7:08 pm Post subject:

Congrats on making it to Alaska.
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LivinInnaVWBus · Samba Member Joined: October 07, 2013 Posts: 968

Pull the fill plug first to make sure you can get oil in it after you drain it!

HastaAlaska · Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2015 8:53 pm Post subject:

Hey guys,

Thanks for the prompt response. It feels great to be in Alaska after such a struggle.

I don't think it is over yet though. I definitely found a a different oil coming out from the transmission. Previously I had thought it was just engine oil but now on closer inspection it isn't. There isn't a mechanic or auto shop here in Skagway but I managed to find some 80W90 oil.

The local 'car person' told me that I would need to have the allen wrench flown in from Jeuno which would take 2 days. Luckily your advice helped me get that off much quicker and cheaper, just the way I like.

I was surprised to see that the oil was actually pretty full so perhaps that leak isn't as bad as I had thought. Also makes me worry about where the transmission noise is coming from if it isn't from low oil. I took the drain plug out to find a worrying amount of shrapnel on it. Is that a lot? It seems like a lot. My gears have been slipping more recently (only Reverse) and occasionally grind when I engage them.

First picture from Alaska - typical Kombi Life!
There certainly is a bit of noise coming from the drive train.

I also noticed a small tear in another cv boot so I will change that out tomorrow. Could that be the cause of the noise? It really is a small tear and only happened recently. Unfortunately that means that I have gone through all my CV boot spares and I have a lot of miles ahead of me. Might need to get one shipped up here, doubt there are any VW suppliers in Ak, do you know of any?

Cheers

Ben
_________________
Around The World in a VW - Follow the Docuseries
2011 - PRESENT
Hasta Alaska Series - https://kombilife.com/hasta-alaska/
World Overland Series - https://kombilife.com/world-overland-travel-series/
Latest Adventures - https://www.youtube.com/@kombilife

timvw7476 · Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2015 10:48 pm Post subject: Stranded on the way to ALASKA!

Usually there are "whiskers" of metallic slough-off on the end of the
magnetic probe.
It looks like you're holding a meteorite in your hand.......
Wipe that off & refill & nurse that gearbox.
Happy to see you & the bus up North.

Manfred58sc · Samba Member Joined: October 05, 2009 Posts: 3382

There are quite a few ACVW people in Alaska, Wheelie Pete made it to the Arctic Circle last summer with all sorts of break downs and found help. If you have a packet of CV grease (actual VW/AUDI) you may want to try adding that to you trans axle. I've done it many times (as have my customers), it will quiet things down,help shifting,buy some time. The writing is on the wall for that trans. I'm afraid. Start looking for a spare, lots of hippies abandoned their Bus's up there on the way to enlightenment. Thanks for sharing
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