Coolant Water Pipe Leak

[glasshopper]

Hello.
I am having a bad week with my bus.
I had a recent snapped alternator bracket - I pulled over when battery warning lights started flashing on the dash and had the van recovered to a garage.
When this happened the van did slightly overheat and a lot of water and steam appeared around the engine very briefly as I stopped.

I am still looking to replace the alternator adjustor bracket which has been welded [see my other post: https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.p ... t#p7595867] but now have just noticed a new issue.

I have visible coolant loss when the engine is running. It is is coming out of this pipe here http://www.vwheritage.com/vw_act_shop.p ... try_GB.htm where it is attached to the engine block.
Has anyone ever experienced a leak like this before? Is this pipe and gasket simple to change?
Can this pipe and gasket be replaced with the engine in situ?

I am in desperate need of the van for a house move in 4 days!!!
My oil is not cloudy and I have had my eye fixed on the temperature gauge ever since the alternator incident and nothing strange has happened so I do not think this is anything more serious.

Any thoughts or tips on this would be thankfully received. Thanks.

[Ian Hulley]

Easy to change with the engine in if the studs don't break and yes this is a common part to fail.

Ian

[glasshopper]

Thanks for the fast feedback Ian - will look for all the parts and the next trick will be to find a garage close to me who can fix this at short notice.
Will post back how it goes.

Cheers.
NiK.

[Cruz]

Heritage sell the gasket too N90128802 iirc

[glasshopper]

Amazing - http://www.vwheritage.com/ got the gasket and pipe over to me next day - a local garage - Manor Garage, Box, Wiltshire switched the gasket whilst I waited for very little money. There was no need for the pipe which I can return - I have made a test drive - all looks good and I am back up and running.

The next thing to look into is getting that alternator bracket fixed!
Thanks all.

NiK.

[Cruz]

The next thing to look into is getting that alternator bracket fixed!.

Surely you can source a replacement either 2nd hand or new from classic parts in germany?

[glasshopper]

I have loaded the van with stuff after the last couple of days drama - was just about to hit the road when I realised I had forgotten something.
Flicked the enigne off... walked back towards the house - glanced back at the van and noticed water again leaking from the rhs engine compartment.

Had a look with myself and a mechanic - cannot see the source of the leak exactly but there looks to be water coming from the RHS head gasket.
The van still runs fine - there is no odd smoke from the exhaust, and my oil is still clean.

Could i have split the head gasket - is this a warped head?
The vehicle had new heads around 5 years ago - which I am now thinking should have actually been a new engine considering the money I spent.

Considering my options - moving house in 2 days - the van is loaded but will never make it to its destination.
This is seriously bad news. Has anyone else experienced such a thing - a head gasket leaking only water?

Cheers for any help.
NiK.

[Ian Hulley]

That's not a 'head gasket' it's the waterjacket seal that's gone. The 'headgasket' is a thin annealed ring on the top of each barrel.

Ian.

[glasshopper]

Surely you can source a replacement either 2nd hand or new from classic parts in germany?

Do you have a link to this item please - or are you referring to: http://www.vw-classicparts.com/

I have been told by a German mechanic at my local garage that I can get a new VW engine for about euro 1000 from Germany.
Has anyone got any links to sites or tips about this?

Tx. NiK.

[glasshopper]

Ian - can you give me any more information about this please ... is this easy to replace?
Tx. NiK.

[Cruz]

Surely you can source a replacement either 2nd hand or new from classic parts in germany?

Do you have a link to this ite please - or are you referring to:

Tx. NiK.

Did you not see this? viewtopic.php?f=37&t=68928&p=7595846#p7595867

Failing that both are available from classic parts in germany see viewtopic.php?f=2&t=54982&hilit=obtaining+obsolete+parts#p7382952

025903253 - for 45a and 65a alternators

025903251 - for 90a alternators

[glasshopper]

Hi Cruz - I saw that thanks - the bracket was sent but got lost in the post - it is really not my week with my vehicle.

[Cruz]

I'm sure a simple wanted ad would get you another?

[glasshopper]

Hi Ian - the part that I am seeing water running from seems to be http://www.justkampers.com/shop/cylinde ... 10907.html
I can not see the source of the water coming from anywhere else.
Will go and have a look at my manual for the water jacket seal you are referring to.
Tx.
NiK.

[glasshopper]

Cruz - thanks for the feedback - I will look into the bracket - but I have much more pressing issues at the moment which relate to visible coolant loss when the engine is running.
I will get the bracket sorted if and when I have got the engine running with no coolant loss.
Thanks for the links - already located the bracket I am after - the part numbers are really really useful thanks.

All the best.