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I have a VW camper fliptop with the TDI conversion engine in.
I did a 450mile trip last weekend and it run sweet until I got 10mile from home and the water temp gauge started to climb. I put the heating on full blast and sure enough the gauage started to go down. But with about 5 mile to go it shot up to red flashing light danger zone. So I pulled over and to my amazement the radiator overflow tank was overflowing and spitting out some nice sludge which combined "oil & water" I then looked in the radiator to find the same sludge in there. So after seeing this I checked under the rocker cover cap and it was clear. But from experience it is pointing towards a head gasket fault
Just to clarify it still pulls fine and is not throwing any blue smoke out.
So members I need some help here. Do you believe like me it is the head gasket that just needs replacing. If so not too bad or do you think it is pointing to something else? Also how do I get all that sludge out of my water system? Do I just use a flushing solution?
Hi it could be the head gasket, but first id remove the OIL COOLER and check that, very common and many many garages replace a head gasket when in fact its a £40 cooler thats at fault, check/change the cooler, flush the oil and water, refill with fresh (dont worry about using Anti-freeze) and try, if it still mixes then its your head gasket
Hope this helps
1988 Matt Black, T25 caravelle, Living the dream
Wanted diesel sump and oil pick up PM me if you can help
I'm having the same trouble but the AA did a 'smoke test' and assured me it was not the head gasket???. Reading this, and the fact that the oil is still mixing despite numerous flush throughs, and cleaning of the water unit I'm now thinking there could be more trouble ahead
"Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter" Mark Twain
It takes AGES and MANY MANY changes of water to clear the cooling system of oilly crud. After I fixed mine I thought I still had a problem as the cooling water got yucky within an hour of driving but it got less and less each time I changed it, until after maybe 10 or 12 changes it became ok. You get very slick at doing the bleeding procedure doing this
I did not use any flushing agent, perhaps I should have. I considered using washing powder, (read it on the net), but decided not to risk it. Also read at the same time about a bloke who tried to clear his system with 1/2 a bottle of Fairy Liquid. Apparently it took him weeks and weeks to get it out enough to stop it foaming up all the time
Thank you for this. I feel more reassured and will keep going with the de-gunking process.....In the mean time i'm keeping everything crossed. Cheers for the heads up.
"Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter" Mark Twain
best stuff you use is FORTE BIO DEGREASER that clears it will, bear in mind tho that the inside of the rad will be full as will the heater matrix, so as above will take ages to get it clear again, at work we use the FORTE first few times you get loads out, then we get the owner to use it for a week or so and redo it, the only way TBH
1988 Matt Black, T25 caravelle, Living the dream
Wanted diesel sump and oil pick up PM me if you can help
Craigy8. Apologies for hijacking yr post but it seems that we're dealing with the same issue . I will persevere with the de-gunking..... Thanks for the tips guys, much appreciated.
"Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter" Mark Twain
Dont worry about hi jacking my post as we are all one community right?
Anyway guys I have taken a picture of my engine so that one of you can hopefully point me in the right direction as to where the oil cooler is
Pic is a little to small, the oil cooler is above the oil filter, you will see it as there will be 2 coolant pipes that go to the cooler, undo the filter, the thread that the filter screws to has a nut on it undo the nut and the cooler will drop down, take off coolant pipes and remove cooler
1988 Matt Black, T25 caravelle, Living the dream
Wanted diesel sump and oil pick up PM me if you can help
Note that oil cooler leaks (into the water side) can be very hard to trace even when off. It only takes a pin sized hole anywhere inside. When I had this (on our VW Scirocco) our local VW friendly garage tested it, but I am not sure how they did it Maybe seal the 2 oil pipes well, then immerse in hot water and look for bubbles as the air trapped inside expands ?
ghost123uk wrote:Note that oil cooler leaks (into the water side) can be very hard to trace even when off. It only takes a pin sized hole anywhere inside. When I had this (on our VW Scirocco) our local VW friendly garage tested it, but I am not sure how they did it Maybe seal the 2 oil pipes well, then immerse in hot water and look for bubbles as the air trapped inside expands ?
Best way is to use a smoke machine on the coolant side, block on side and fill with smoke, easiest way tbh
1988 Matt Black, T25 caravelle, Living the dream
Wanted diesel sump and oil pick up PM me if you can help
. I will persevere with the de-gunking..... Thanks for the tips guys, much appreciated.
Maybe seal the 2 oil pipes well, then immerse in hot water and look for bubbles as the air trapped inside expands ?
(typed in jest btw Phil, not being rude