Is my headgasket blown?

Enderbean · Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 1:06 pm Post subject: Is my headgasket blown?

Below is a picture of my coolant leak location on my 1986 Vanagon GL. I believe it's a blown head gasket but i'm highly uncertain since I have little experience with these things. My Vanagon is quickly changing that though. lol Let me know what you guys think. It would be very helpful. Also any ideas on the cost to fix?

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AtlasShrugged · Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 1:26 pm Post subject:

Sadly it looks like the seal is leaking. The good new is it not "blown". You have a leaker and work needs to be done. A new gasket is in your future. You might try some of the Subaru leak sealer (conditioner) available at the Subaru dealer.

Short term it might work stopping the drip. Long term you need to replace the rubber seal and inspect the VW heads for "pits" and other nasty problems.

nemobuscaptain · Samba Member Joined: March 07, 2002 Posts: 3874

I've heard of many bad experiences with the various "sealer" solutions in a bottle, though I've had no experience myself. What is it that allows these miracles in a can to seal the head gasket leak but not seal up the radiator or smaller coolant passages?
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AtlasShrugged · Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 1:55 pm Post subject:

Can't explain the science. I do know Subaru had problems with dripping headgaskets and started using this "conditioner" product. It works very well without plugging radiators.

My own experience with the product was on my old 88 Vanagon with a dripping gasket. Its stopped leaking till I got the dollars together for a repair.

The Subaru "conditioner" seems to gel and seal once hot and exposed to air. It had no ill effects on my radiator or heater cores.

Enderbean · Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 2:22 pm Post subject:

Thanks Atlas Shrugged (best book every by the way). It's nice to have a better scope of my problem. I need about 300 miles of driving before I can possibly (if I have enough money) get the head gaskets repaired. I think I'll chance using the Subaru coolant conditioner to see what it does. Found a couple threads on the topic.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=198226&highlight=bars+leak

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/archive/index.php/ot--t-159757--.html

I think for me it's worth the gamble for the time being. My dependance on the van is of the up most importance. Contacted a Subaru dealer just now and the stuff is about four bucks. I'll keep the thread informed on my experience.

Ahwahnee · Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 4:15 pm Post subject:

AtlasShrugged · Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 6:43 pm Post subject:

IdahoDoug · Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 7:38 am Post subject:

Agree - two bottles of the Subaru Cooling System Conditioner available only at dealers. Small blue bottle. It may get you through the summer.

DougM
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Enderbean · Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 5:14 pm Post subject:

So I libby bonged the weakened Vanagon right before my drive home (73 miles). When using the "libby bong" while revving 2000 plus RPM's I noticed air continuously coming out both the front bleeder and the rear coolant reservoir (where the bong is attached) continuously for 3 minutes when I gave up on bleeding all the air out. Is this because the head-gasket? Closed it up drove for several minutes and took off on a 73mile trip home on a highway. Took me 2.5 hours (many stops bleeding out air in the front), 1 gallon coolant, 1 gallon water to make it down. Everytime I stop the reservoir would overflow spewing coolant everywhere and once I didn't put the coolant cap on right and it exploded off causing me to use all that liquid. Interestingly I found little silver sutt in the bottom of the reservoir. Is that from the Subaru blue bottle or has someone used Aluminum sealer in the past? Now my coolant system is diluted in water and I'm pretty sure the Subaru blue bottle stuff shot out during the drive. I really need to make the trip one more time this Friday. Any advice?

Mark · Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 5:49 pm Post subject:

Advice? Sure, I think it's clear what you need to do to avoid becoming the next HAZMAT incident on the evening news.
If your reservoir is overflowing and you keep having to add that quantity AND you already know the seal is leaking, replace it.
Do you really not have any other mode of transportation available?

Enderbean · Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 6:03 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the advice man. It is dangerous and not very smart...I know. But I have work responsibilities in one town this week I had to get to. Since I sleep in the van whenever I'm in this town it's critical I have the van. It will be parked till Friday. I won't have the funds to fix it until after Aug. 20th. I'm forced to post this guy up on Craigslist since I don't have the time or money needed to properly take car of the van. Even after the gasket replacement there's probably going to need more repairs. Makes me sad but as is life, can't always have what you want. As for Friday, I'll make a dare devil attempt to get it back up to the other town. I have much confidence it will make it, going 45mph and a good bleed before the trip. Thanks again. Smile

AtlasShrugged · Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 6:07 pm Post subject:

Enderbean · Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 6:13 pm Post subject:

No, I used the Bong to fill up the coolant from a weeks worth of leaking and try and bleed the system. Isn't that what you use it for? My rig needs constant bleeding, probably from the gasket leak....I think. I'm a complete noob to having a car that needs to be babied so much.

dobryan · Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 6:20 pm Post subject:

The system is basically self bleeding if it does not go very low on coolant. You should be able to keep it topped up, add the conditioner, and drive. If you need to bleed some air from the radiator you can slightly open the bleed bolt on top of the radiator and let the system pressure push out the air (carefully of course). The Libby bong is only needed when changing the coolant or when there was a coolant loss so bad that air pockets are large.
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CaptTurbo · Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 6:22 pm Post subject:

I wouldn't attempt to make that trip again. When my '87 Syncro started to leak it went from looking like yours to a gusher that was a full on leak that could not be handled by anything short of a garden hose.

If you run her empty it will get ugly fast. Best of luck.

Enderbean · Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2012 8:32 am Post subject:

Well I think it's time to retire the Vanagon for now. Thanks Samba forum for helping me reach the reality of the situation. Found a Vanagon mechanic on craigs who would do the gasket for 600 bucks (250 miles away). I'm going to find a friend to help me tow it over there eventually. My mechanic is an idiot. Brought it to him 2 times in the last month (coolant flush and cv joints) months and each time I asked him to see if the heads are cracked. I only got the reply, "everything looks great". This forum is a much better place to troubleshoot Vanagon issues. Wink

dhaavers · Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2012 8:56 am Post subject:

He may be right - don't give up on your guy yet. Heads may not be cracked, but
pitted & leaking due to deferred/improper maintnance over the life of the van.

Unfortunately, a very common problem for vans with some unknown history.

Search: "head pitting"

Good luck...
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