Coolant in muffler

[aplusbisme]

After searching past posts I haven’t found this described. Please send me in the right direction if it has been. 83.5 westy 1.9 new to me. Drove it three hours home, no problems, no overheating, ran great. Was told it had a rebuilt 2.1. I’ve since found it still has the 1.9 coolant and exhaust system. Definitely looks like new heads, though they are German not AMC. Block has MV code which I thought meant 2.1. Also found the engine was “rebuilt” by Waterboxer out of Raleigh NC. Wondering if this is the same Waterboxer run by Ken(I think that was the name) who apparently has a shady operation! In any case, coolant is coming out the muffler. Yes it’s coolant and yes I tasted it. No signs of a coolant leak. Removed push rod covers and did thorough inspection. No signs of coolant around head gasket, push rod tubes, or any exhaust parts. A pressure test on coolant turned up small leak on water pump but don’t think that would lead to coolant in exhaust. Pulled plugs. All dry and look similar. Changed oil and no signs of coolant in it. What’s next?? Compression/leak down test? Thanks for any advice!

[Wildthings]

If you get coolant entering the combustion chamber it could then get into the exhaust. A crack between the exhaust port and a coolant passages in the head could also do this.

[aplusbisme]

Read something about this on a post. Exhaust port studs. How do I check this and would this?

[jberger]

Are you certain it's not just leaking from the expansion tank or related cap, sensor, hoses? That's right above your muffler.

J

[aplusbisme]

Yes absolutely positive it’s not from either coolant tank. I wish it was that simple!

[fxr]

I've just mended my Vespa - single cylinder 300cc - which had coolant in the muffler. Turned out it was a crack in the inlet port, so some coolant got sucked in every cycle, and would drip down into the cylinder and out of the exhaust port when the engine was switched off.

I note you have new heads - so I hope it's not a crack for you!
_________________
Jim Crowther
1984 1.9l EJ22 Westy Wolfsburg Edition
Vespa GTS 300

[dabaron]

well crap. sounds to me like the heads are suspect.

how is the coolant level since you last checked, has the light come on low or barely noticeable?
_________________
1991 Vanagon GL Camper
i had no idea i wanted to be a mechanic
"burnin oil and cookin coils" -- Destructo

BiWerks Design, LLC

[aplusbisme]

No lights on. Coolant is low. I feel like there was more coolant in exhaust after pressure testing cooling system. I didn’t pressurize more than 10 psi.

[djkeev]

Pump up coolant system, I'd go to 20 without worry.

Begin with it warm after a drive and let it sit pressurized all night.
In the morning pull the spark plugs.
Are they wet?
Get a long medical Q-tip and probe into the lower part of the cylinder,
Does the swab come out soaked with coolant? Green, red, pink, orange, whatever your flavor is.

Dave
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[aplusbisme]

It’s not holding pressure at all. Can’t keep 10 psi. I’ve gone over the coolant system pretty well, tightening up hose clamps, replaced coolant tank cap and rear heater valve. The leak at water pump is small. I can try to pump it up more. As long as I don’t go over 20 psi I’m good, right? Thanks

[djkeev]

[IdahoDoug]

I like Daves long Q tip solution, or pick up a Harbor Freight bore scope for $59 or so. I suspect coolant going past the cylinder sealing rings - a common skipped step in poor work and this will show it.
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1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader

[4Gears4Tires]

I disagree about getting anything electronic from HF. That's one thing HF is super expensive on.

Wireless borescopes are $20 online. They use your phone as a screen and capture device, which is really handy. You can set it up somewhere within view and it wont wobble around while you try to snake the camera in. And you can always review it easily because it stays with you.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/WIFI-Wireless-Snake-Scope...3lF7d2l_Fg
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[wesitarz]

Leakdown.

[dabaron]

[aplusbisme]

Getting somewhere. Dave’s idea was great. Ran it. Put some pressure on coolant system. Pulled plugs and did the q tip test. Coolant in number 2. The rest were dry. So....next? Prep and pull right head? Thanks for the help. Any other advice greatly appreciated

[Zeitgeist 13]

I'd be tempted to pull both heads and check the builder's work--in for a penny, in for a pound.
_________________
Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik?

[aplusbisme]

Thinking about that. Seems like pulling both heads wouldn’t require that much more work, as far as prepping. Never done it before, just watched videos and read posts;)

[dabaron]

[aplusbisme]

Well it’s been confirmed that the guy I bought the van from had purchased an engine from the notorious “Ken/Jake/Waterboxer.com” thief. This guy has been at it a long time! Gonna pull the engine and go over it. Hopefully start today.