Valves?

[Donald360]

Thanks for the rocker arm advice. I will try that first as I am gutted at the thought of dismantling the engine again.

[Donald360]

After a bit of a delay, I got the head off with very little trouble. Nothing obviously amiss. Took it into Engine Resource in Dundee. When the valves were out we could see a distinct black groove in a couple of the valve seats as if it had been badly cut when the head was manufactured (spanish make). Seats and valves now recut. All I need to do now is refit it and hope the problem has been solved.

[Donald360]

Success! A couple of short local journeys with no problems and then an overnight trip to Pitlochry for the Etape Caledonia. The van never missed a beat - I'm really pleased. Fingers crossed it behaves itself now. Just a small job needed now to replace the coolant pressure cap which seems not to work properly.

[itchyfeet]

Just a small job needed now to replace the coolant pressure cap which seems not to work properly.

well done, get a proper VW pressure cap, brickwerks sell them, (and VW), a very important part of the cooling systee so not worth cutting corners.

they should 'quack' when you blow down the tube.

[ghost123uk]

Glad you got to the bottom of it and you have to be happy that you got the head off and sorted (again) without any drama and without having to disturb / replace the liner seals

they should 'quack' when you blow down the tube.

iirc I read on here that even the good ones (VW and The Brickwerks ones ) don't always quack. I could be wrong, I only mention it in case you buy a "proper" one and then worry because it doesn't quack.