water on engine
Moderators: User administrators, Moderators
- Bessie the camper
- Registered user
- Posts: 665
- Joined: 19 Oct 2009, 18:02
- 80-90 Mem No: 7530
- Location: Telford
water on engine
Hello to everyone first
Ive just brought bessie she 1,9 petrol and LPG when checking the van after driving her home 130 miles no problem gave her a check over and i notice there was a small amount of water sitting on the engine far left but i dont seem to be losing any coolant or overheating i dried it up. ive done over 200 miles this weekend and its back but cant see where it coming from any ideas it the 1st watercooled vw van ive had only had Aircooled before that was about 10years ago HELP
Ive just brought bessie she 1,9 petrol and LPG when checking the van after driving her home 130 miles no problem gave her a check over and i notice there was a small amount of water sitting on the engine far left but i dont seem to be losing any coolant or overheating i dried it up. ive done over 200 miles this weekend and its back but cant see where it coming from any ideas it the 1st watercooled vw van ive had only had Aircooled before that was about 10years ago HELP
Gareth, Annette, Ruudi
MOBS
07974216342
MOBS
07974216342
- quagmire
- Trader
- Posts: 1978
- Joined: 10 Apr 2008, 21:14
- 80-90 Mem No: 5077
- Location: Shropshire
- Contact:
Re: water on engine
hi mate,i would check all your hoses and the clear pipe that runs all around the engine bay for splits.give the hoses a good squeeze and check the jubilee clips are tight.welcome to the club 

- Bessie the camper
- Registered user
- Posts: 665
- Joined: 19 Oct 2009, 18:02
- 80-90 Mem No: 7530
- Location: Telford
Re: water on engine
hello thanks for the reply yesterday ive checked all the pipes and no leaks but i think it might be the water jacket seal. things ive checked
there no water in the oil
not leaking from pipes
when i run the engine leave to trick over for 5mins small amount of water starts to appear on the engine by water jacket i do run on LPG
if it is the water jacket which is the best way of fixing rad seal or new jacket
Many Thanks
Gareth
there no water in the oil
not leaking from pipes
when i run the engine leave to trick over for 5mins small amount of water starts to appear on the engine by water jacket i do run on LPG
if it is the water jacket which is the best way of fixing rad seal or new jacket
Many Thanks
Gareth
Gareth, Annette, Ruudi
MOBS
07974216342
MOBS
07974216342
- ghost123uk
- Registered user
- Posts: 6855
- Joined: 10 Mar 2006, 10:15
- 80-90 Mem No: 2585
- Location: John in Malpas, in the very S. W. part of Cheshire.
- Contact:
Re: water on engine
Bessie the camper wrote: if it is the water jacket which is the best way of fixing rad seal or new jacket
Gareth, I do hope for your sake it is not the jacket seal !
2 Things to check before you panic...
1 = replace the blue rad cap (the one with the little pipe coming from it)
Get it from Brickwerks as he only sells top quality parts.
Buy online = http://www.brickwerks.co.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - usually arrives in 48 hours

2 = remove and blow through (with gob) to check for blockages, the narrow pipes around the thermostat housing (take care not to break the housing, they are like hens teeth to get) and the pipe that goes from the rear of the left hand head to the thin pipe that runs all the way around the top of the engine bay. Also blow through the "T" in that same pipe were the rubber bit connects to the thin metal (or sometimes plastic) bit. Check you can blow through all the thin pipes coming from that one that runs around the engine bay.
Then CAREFULLY follow the water system bleeding procedure as outlined in our "wiki" section = https://club8090.co.uk/wiki/Co ... ing_system" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.
All the above is because any "over pressurisation" of the water system can cause a less than perfect head to cylinder seal to leak.
If it still does it...

Read through ALL of this thread =
https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=52374" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I know it's a long thread, but if your head to jacket seals are leaking you NEED to know this info.
If you do decide to try "sealant" then the ONLY one to use on our engines is "K-Seal" (Euro Car Parts sell it - usually have a local branch or buy online - 1 can is sufficient, but remember, 1 = do the stuff I mentioned above FIRST !! (and also remember, even K-Seal is classed as a bit of a bodge !!)
Wishing you good luck.
John in Chester
Last edited by ghost123uk on 21 Oct 2009, 09:44, edited 3 times in total.
Got a new van, but it's a 165bhp T4 [shock horror] Accurate LPG Station map here
- jamesc76
- Registered user
- Posts: 6241
- Joined: 14 Oct 2005, 14:42
- 80-90 Mem No: 1186
- Location: Nottingham
- Contact:
Re: water on engine
Might sound silly but was it raining ?????? Could be water blown up it it were !
DJ at Dubdayz Summerfest
Now cutting about in an LT35 MWB
Now cutting about in an LT35 MWB
- T'Onion
- Moderator
- Posts: 10812
- Joined: 07 Oct 2005, 17:39
- 80-90 Mem No: 255
- Location: Sheffield or 07737167005
Re: water on engine
Are you running the early or late water system ?
early then have a look around the water pump , theres a pipe that joints the pump to the system , and it just pushers into the housing of the pump , theres an O ring on the end , it could be that .
Take the van for a run , then lift the lid and with the engine running ,see if you can see where its leaking, also watch it as it cools down , this will take an hour or so , talcum powder can be helpful in tracing leaks , pat a load on and any leaks will show up
early then have a look around the water pump , theres a pipe that joints the pump to the system , and it just pushers into the housing of the pump , theres an O ring on the end , it could be that .
Take the van for a run , then lift the lid and with the engine running ,see if you can see where its leaking, also watch it as it cools down , this will take an hour or so , talcum powder can be helpful in tracing leaks , pat a load on and any leaks will show up
victus in mutuo vicis
Ego mori tu mori
Ego mori tu mori
- Ian Hulley
- Registered user
- Posts: 12661
- Joined: 11 Oct 2005, 08:08
- 80-90 Mem No: 1323
- Location: Wirksworth, Derbyshire ... or at t'mill
Re: water on engine
T'Onion wrote: talcum powder can be helpful in tracing leaks , pat a load on

Ooooh I know dear !
The Hulley's Bus
1989 2.1DJ Trampspotter
LPG courtesy of Steve @ Gasure
1989 2.1DJ Trampspotter
LPG courtesy of Steve @ Gasure
- Bessie the camper
- Registered user
- Posts: 665
- Joined: 19 Oct 2009, 18:02
- 80-90 Mem No: 7530
- Location: Telford
Re: water on engine
cheers for all the replys
i think ive now found where the leak is coming from ...its from the under the manifold left hand side when i put my hand under the manifold i can feel a plastic cap and the water seem to be coming from there .... is this a simple fix or is this a bigger problem
many thanks again this is the best T25 site
i think ive now found where the leak is coming from ...its from the under the manifold left hand side when i put my hand under the manifold i can feel a plastic cap and the water seem to be coming from there .... is this a simple fix or is this a bigger problem
many thanks again this is the best T25 site
Gareth, Annette, Ruudi
MOBS
07974216342
MOBS
07974216342
- quagmire
- Trader
- Posts: 1978
- Joined: 10 Apr 2008, 21:14
- 80-90 Mem No: 5077
- Location: Shropshire
- Contact:
Re: water on engine
righto,there are 2 metal seals on the underside of the inlet manifold(1 either side),perhaps the one on the left has corroded or the pipe running into the manifold has split or isn't tight enough? hope this helps 

- Bessie the camper
- Registered user
- Posts: 665
- Joined: 19 Oct 2009, 18:02
- 80-90 Mem No: 7530
- Location: Telford
Re: water on engine
cheers man
that helps loads i guess it alright to drive aslong as i keep an eye on temp n water level plus do you think i'll get one from the show next week
thanks again

that helps loads i guess it alright to drive aslong as i keep an eye on temp n water level plus do you think i'll get one from the show next week
thanks again

Gareth, Annette, Ruudi
MOBS
07974216342
MOBS
07974216342
- quagmire
- Trader
- Posts: 1978
- Joined: 10 Apr 2008, 21:14
- 80-90 Mem No: 5077
- Location: Shropshire
- Contact:
Re: water on engine
yeah,you might mate.but first i would undo the pipe and make sure it's not split then i would put up a wanted ad on here! 
