1983 1.9 VW Transporter - potential head gasket issue

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BB3
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1983 1.9 VW Transporter - potential head gasket issue

Post by BB3 »

Hello all,

Newbie here - please be gentle! 

I picked up a 1983 1.9 VW Transporter last week and drove her for the first time this weekend, only to have smoke/steam coming out the back of her while on the motorway. I assumed that when the smoke started coming out it was because i was pushing her 60mph when I was advised by the previous owners to stay between 50/60. However, when I pulled off the motorway (we managed to get 26 miles away from home) she turned off (very sure she stalled) and she would not come back on - put our hazards on and waited for recovery. The red light on the dash was also blinking before we stalled. We also filled up with water (about 10L or so) but didn't seem to top up. When the RAC arrived 4 hours later, they diagnosed us with a missing breather pipe very quickly (didn't have much of an inspection) and towed us home.

Initially, when we got onto the motorway at the beginning of the journey, I thought that it didn't feel like we had any/much power but just assumed that was because it was a big and heavy vehicle. There was also an acrid smell when we drove her the other night (thought it had to do with us struggling with gears) 

Before we left, we filled her up with water (behind the license plate) before we left but it didn't need much to hit the max level. 

I called out a mobile mechanic, who came to have a look and put 10l of water into the coolant tank and it started coming out the exhaust and he found water in the exhaust and looked at the spark plugs which looked a little bit rusty. When he stuck the screwdriver in the left head gasket, he said it looked like there was water at the end. So he thinks it is a head gasket failure but is going to look into it as he has not worked extensively with this type of vehicle.

Any advice would be great or any recommendations for mechanics who are in Kent with knowledge of VW's please. It's really unfortunate that we managed to get a camper only for its head gasket to blow a week later, it had just passed it's MOT with no advisories and the sellers seemed genuine and helpful. 

Photo enclosed
A = missing breather pipe
B = under license plate, where we filled up with water
C = where we are pouring water into and it doesn't seem to ever 'fill' up with water

Image
upload pic
1984 VW Transporter 1.9

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Re: 1983 1.9 VW Transporter - potential head gasket issue

Post by Mocki »

Sadly you have fallen into the trap ..... "don’t drive it faster than 50mph" is classic overheating warning signs 
Sounds very much like you have a hole in one of the heads. There are no head gaskets in the usual sense on a WBX , 
what everyone refers to as head gaskets are actually water jacket seals , and only keep the water in , rather than traditional head gaskets that keep the oil, water and combustion separate . 
the WBX combustion head gaskets are actually in the top of the liner and seal the head to the barrels individually, one in each barrel , and oil is tetained by rubber sealing rings externally on the barrels , so you won’t have the tell tale oil in the water thing of a inline engine .....

if your "mechanic" has really poked a screwdriver tween the water jacket seal and the head, you are in for a engine out head off experience anyway , no matter what else is wrong 

oh and the missing breather is because someone has fitted the wrong carb 

sorry to tell you what you didn’t want to hear ....... but all the info you need is on this forum, you are in the right place 
Steve
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BB3
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Re: 1983 1.9 VW Transporter - potential head gasket issue

Post by BB3 »

Thank you so much Mocki, as you can tell I am an amateur in these parts but thank you for being so informative and telling me the correct terms. I will have a read around the forum and thanks again! 
1984 VW Transporter 1.9

TONYT25T25
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Re: 1983 1.9 VW Transporter - potential head gasket issue

Post by TONYT25T25 »

Talk about being thrown in at the deep end, odd looking carb that but has mentioned you are on the right site, lots of help available here, with loads of experience so just ask and read up.  Just to add the engine bay looks quite clean with what appears to be some fairly new installed items.
1984 Campervan 1.9DG Petrol WBX

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Re: 1983 1.9 VW Transporter - potential head gasket issue

Post by Stesaw »

Probably a webber fitted on it. Which is why there is no breather pipe from the oil tower.

Sounds like a baptism of fire. 
1985 LeisureDrive 2.1DJ 5 Speed syncro conversion project.
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maxstu
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Re: 1983 1.9 VW Transporter - potential head gasket issue

Post by maxstu »

Whereabouts in Kent, BB3? Im in Margate and can meet up for a look if you are fairly nearby. Together we can run up the engine and check the cooling system properly.

Another thing. Is it a four or five speed box?
You did select fifth gear on motorway? Easy to forget when driving the dog leg five speed gearbox
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BB3
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Re: 1983 1.9 VW Transporter - potential head gasket issue

Post by BB3 »

Hello maxstu, I am in Rochester unfortunately (we should have stayed in Whitstable as I would have been closer to you!!) but happy to compensate you if you would like to travel down. it is 5 speed and i did indeed select fifth gear
1984 VW Transporter 1.9

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maxstu
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Re: 1983 1.9 VW Transporter - potential head gasket issue

Post by maxstu »

Replying by PM.
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BB3
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Re: 1983 1.9 VW Transporter - potential head gasket issue

Post by BB3 »

TONYT25T25 wrote: 24 Apr 2021, 21:45 Talk about being thrown in at the deep end, odd looking carb that but has mentioned you are on the right site, lots of help available here, with loads of experience so just ask and read up.  Just to add the engine bay looks quite clean with what appears to be some fairly new installed items.


Tell me about it! I wouldn’t expect anything less, I like to go big. Thank you, that’s what struck us that it was very clean and well kept. Will definitely be asking questions and thank you!
1984 VW Transporter 1.9

BB3
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Re: 1983 1.9 VW Transporter - potential head gasket issue

Post by BB3 »

Stesaw wrote: 24 Apr 2021, 22:41 Probably a webber fitted on it. Which is why there is no breather pipe from the oil tower.

Sounds like a baptism of fire. 


It really is a baptism of fire! Only one way to do it!
1984 VW Transporter 1.9

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Re: 1983 1.9 VW Transporter - potential head gasket issue

Post by Mr Bean »

Too soon the be calling any machine "she" . Sadly that term of endearment needs earning over time, oily hands and a dented wallet and you are clearly only at the beginning of that particular  "road map" :wink: in my book. Well worth it anyway.
My old girl is sitting outside as I write patiently waiting for her first long trip for ages. Second only to Mrs Bean in my world :ok .
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maxstu
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Re: 1983 1.9 VW Transporter - potential head gasket issue

Post by maxstu »

A good day for riding my motorcycle. So l cruised up to Rochester to meet with BB3 and have a peek under the rear cover.

Early cooling system DG 1.9 five speed. Overall clean and mostly in order. Yet weird carb conversion (no name) with sandwich filter on top and converted to electric fuel pump located in engine bay.

Stainless steel exhaust in good condition and all exhaust studs in excellent condition. Blue coolant cap knackered. No trumpet noise and easy to suck.

Water pouring out of bottom of left cylinder head jacket and the two outer head nuts only finger tight (or loose). Removed nuts by hand and pulled/twisted the long engine studs. They both seem to be okay.
Right hand jacket seems to be holding. But also loose outer head nuts....same as left bank. Water jackets look okay but no black sealant noticeable.

Options please?

I suggested finding a local VW specialist SM (Sam) in Medway. Any recommendations for this place?

Then have camper relayed. Release exhaust bolts and inlet manifold nuts. Remove rocker covers. Remove all head nuts. Clean threads on engine studs and internals of nuts. Then follow workshop procedure to re-tighten all nuts through two stages with correct black and yellow sealants. Add water and see what happens.

Your views please? A few photos for you too.

Regards
Stuart

Loose head nut outer left bank.

Image

Sandwich filter and electric fuel pump conversion

Image

No name on carb

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Re: 1983 1.9 VW Transporter - potential head gasket issue

Post by Stesaw »

Wouldn't it just make sense to clean the threads and retorque the head? Supposing the studs are all OK.
Last edited by Stesaw on 09 May 2021, 10:36, edited 1 time in total.
1985 LeisureDrive 2.1DJ 5 Speed syncro conversion project.
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Re: 1983 1.9 VW Transporter - potential head gasket issue

Post by Mocki »

Does it look like it’s a recent water jacket replacemnt ? 
I would be tempted to get some head nut seal ( Dirko?) and tighten them up ? Isn’t going to cost anything much and might be worth a try 

on that note I will wait for Wee Nicola Crankies top engine man to comment with the correct answer 
que Mr Simmonds..........
Steve
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maxstu
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Re: 1983 1.9 VW Transporter - potential head gasket issue

Post by maxstu »

Stesaw wrote: 27 Apr 2021, 17:21 Wouldn't it just make sense to clean the threads and retorque the head? Supposing the studs are all OK.

That is an odd carb setup I guess could it be like a solex ripoff?

If camper was sitting on my driveway it is what l would do. Owners' are newbies with very limited tools...if they dont mind me saying :lol:
MaxStu
1989 DJ 2.1 Auto Leisuredrive rusty bucket.
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