84 VANAGON PROBLEMS

MARKK · Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2003 12:12 pm Post subject: 84 VANAGON PROBLEMS

I HAVE AN 84 VANAGON THAT IS HAVING SOME PROBLEMS. MY OIL KEEPS LEAKING INTO MY COOLANT. THE LOCAL MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE WALL SEPARATING THE OIL FROM THE COOLANT IS CRACKED AND THE I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. I'M NOT SURE I SHOULD BELIEVE HIM. ALSO MY COOLANT HOSES POPPED ONE AT A TIME. ANY SUGGESTIONS? THANKS, MARK

Ragman · Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2003 12:47 pm Post subject:

Goto www.vanagon.com and click Problems. Read up on the common engine problems. Sounds like your mechanic may be telling the truth...

MARKK · Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2003 3:06 pm Post subject:

I WENT TO WWW.VANAGON.COM AND CLICKED ON PROBLEMS BUT IT IS NOT SAYING ANYTHING ABOUT OIL GETTING INTO COOLANT. IT TALKS ABOUT COOLANT LEAKING ONTO THE GROUND. WHY WOULD I HAVE OIL IN MY COOLANT TANKS?

Cam · Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2003 10:54 pm Post subject:

The oil-in-coolant could be bad head gaskets, warped heads/block, cracked heads/block, etc... That part on www.vanagon.com about coolant on the ground (head gaskets)would be the same thing causing the oil in your coolant. The oil is seeping into your coolant system somehow in the same manner as the coolant would seep out onto the ground. If the mechanic has confirmed his hypothesis with a pressure leakdown test or through dissassembly, then he's probably right.
Hope at least some of that info is logical. It's late and I fear I may be making very little sense... Smile

[email protected] · Samba Member Joined: March 16, 2003 Posts: 165

It is actually much harder for oil to get into coolent through the head gasket than coolent into the oil. If you haven't done a bad over heat or have coolent dripping on the ground, I don't think that is the problem.
Consider the oil cooler. It is located between the oil filter and block. It could have a crack between the oil and water. It is held in place with a nut on the tube that the filter threads on to.
I don't know how long you have had the the van or what work has been done on it recently, but a tabelspoon of oil spilled in to the cooling system from some other repair will look like a quart as it circulates through the system and coats the plastic tanks.

laughing_dog · Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2003 3:11 pm Post subject:

I'm with these guys, MARKK. It sounds to me like your head gaskets are shot. This is very expensive bad news, but which opens up a lot of possibilities for you. As flat as it is in FL, you might consider putting a Subaru engine in the Vanagon when you go to replace it. You'll get more high-end than you're used to, which will make those long drives to the beach seem much, much shorter.
_________________
WES
Seattle, WA
'85 Westy "Sumpy" (Die Goldsumpfschildkröte)

MARKK · Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2003 3:26 pm Post subject:

THANKS FOR THE INFO ABOUT THE OIL COOLER. I WILL CHECK THAT OUT. SAD TO SAY I THINK YOU ALL ARE RIGHT ABOUT IT BEING THE HEADS AND SUCH. I LIKE THE IDEA OF THE SUBARU ENGINE. WHAT TYPE OF SUBARU ENGINE WOULD I NEED TO LOOK AT. I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO KEEP IT VW, BUT IF I WANT TO KEEP IT I THINK THIS IS MY BEST OPTION. IF ANY ONE KNOW WHAT TYPE OF ENGINE PLEASE LET ME KNOW. THANKS AGAIN

earthmuffin · Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2003 3:47 pm Post subject:

Do a search for subaru vanagon conversions. There are lots of combinations that you can do. It seems the subaru 2.2 liter is one of the more popular conversions. These guys sell everything that you need for what seems to be a fairly complete conversion.
http://www.kennedyeng.com/sub_van.htm
Lots of info on the web.
I am considering this package, but it helps that I already have the donor car.

MARKK · Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2003 3:52 pm Post subject:

perfect! thats exactly what i needed. i will look into this for sure. good look with your conversion.


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