Club 80-90 Forums

Hi folks,

I need some help. I have an early watercooled Transporter/camper. "A" reg.

I have a few problems with the engine I want to put right.

Firstly, I have topped up the coolant (as expansion bottle was DRY).

Left van unused for a week - expansion bottle was dry again. Checked under van - doesn't appear to have any leaks... (I couldn't find a radiator - and am very embarrassed to find out from Ermie571's post, that its at the front of the van - so I guess I have to check there for leaks too...)

Another worrying problem - we ran the van with engine compartment removed. After a few minutes, as looking down in to the rear part of the the passenger side of the engine bay, there is a blue acrid smoke coming off of the metal pipe (brass coloured) down there. I suppose this is part of the exhaust pipes? I don't have a clue. Could this just be because of condensation in the pipe burning off? The engine temp dial in the dash isn't reading warm (it was only running for a few minutes) Could this be because I am running engine when the expansion bottle is empty of coolant?

Can anyone send me off in the right direction - either book-wise or website wise - I don't pretend to know what I'm talking about - I love tinkering wth cars (but know next to nothing about them), but this is my first van...

Definately going to check the radiator at the weekend, now I know its in the front of the van...

Sarah

Right..
I am sure Emma and John can arrange to meet up and have a quick look.. they should be able to help out with further diagnosis etc..

BUT, do not drive it anywhere.. if the tank was empty and then empty after you topped it, there is either no water in the system of a not a lot and there is a bad leak.. this needs looking at properly...

Have a look in the "WIK" (top of the page) there is lots of info in there about cooling system and bleeding.. I strongly suggest you dont put any antifreeze in if you do try to fill and bleed as if there is a leak you will spread the nasty antifreeze into the environment.. you can always let some water out and refill once fixed....

Thanks for the advice. I'll take a look tomorrow evening.

I suppose the Fox and Goose meet will be out of the question now, unless I get this sorted...

Sarah

sezicoolcat wrote:
1. Left van unused for a week - expansion bottle was dry again . . . radiator . . . I guess I have to check there for leaks too...)

2. . . . there is a blue acrid smoke coming off of the metal pipe (brass coloured) down there . . . Could this just be because of condensation in the pipe burning off?

3. The engine temp dial in the dash isn't reading warm (it was only running for a few minutes) Could this be because I am running engine when the expansion bottle is empty of coolant?

4. Can anyone send me off in the right direction - either book-wise or website wise . . .

Hi, working through the above list:

1. van was un-used for a week; did you run the engine at all during that week? If not, your leak is unlikely to be from the radiator.

2. definitely smoke, rather than steam? If it was condensation that was being burnt off (or the water leaking from part of the cooling system e.g. water pump) it would be steam that you get, not smoke (unless there's another problem with the engine somewhere that is causing the smoking).

3. if the engine was only running for a few minutes you're unlikely to see much movement on the temp guage, but as toomanytoys said, don't be driving the van or running the engine for any length of time because it sounds like you've lost a lot of water in one week considering that the van hasn't been used / moved / started (I'm not sure which).

4. have you got the Haynes manual for your van and somebody with a bit more experience to help you look into this?

Is the header tank (i.e. the bigger reservoir in the cooling system) absolutely full to the brim or is there an air gap in there (NB don't take the top off the header tank unless the engine is cold).

Try filling the top-up tank again and put cardboard down under the van and check it frequently for wet patches.

What's the history? Have you had the van for long, do you use it very often and what problems have you had with it previously? Looking in the Wiki has already been suggested and you could also use the search facility in the menu at the top of this page and search the technical forum for things like coolant, water or leak . . . there's loads of previous posts on these topics.

If you can post any relevant photos on here, that might help generate more answers for you (e.g. whereabouts is the smoke / steam coming from?).

Good luck.

Tony

Sarah....

we are having a coolant party on Sunday if you would like to join us!! As toomanytoys says, happy to have a look for you, and see how we go! I mean, you aren't exactly miles away!

which tank you topping up...the one behind the number plate flap, or the one in the engine bay??

Tis easier if we look and point and suck teeth! Mark and Ruth are coming from Sheepey - he's Aircooled, but happy to come and help and to take the mickey out of water cooled!

Perhaps we can find the leak on yours after we find the leak on ours....

For starters.... Get as much carbaorda s you can find to put underneath van.fill the expansion tank in engine bay to full. Put cap back on. Now compress all the rubber hoses you can to kinda get the water circulating....won't help if pointing up hill, but give it a go. Now undo cap, and see if you can get any more in. once you have got as much in as you think you are going to get, dry off any wet pipes that you can see, and put carboard from under van. Now pump all the water pipes you can get to again. See if anything drops out from under van. check the front to back hoses. Remove upper and lower grills (falt screw driver) and check rad.

If there is nowt coming out....put it all back together and leave it.....check in 24 hours to see what remains.....

if it stays there, then I think it will be safe to run....but you may well like to chjeck with others. This is what the AA did for us.....topped up as much as poss. Ran engine....when it revs, the level in the expansion tank drops, top up. YOu should dee water gushing in to top of tank...if it doesn't the water punp has gone so stop the engine!

If the pup is running, and you can keep topping up, do so, with one other constantly checking for leaks. The acrid smoke is probably coolant dropping onto the exhaust - that stinks, so check there.

Once you have topped up as much as possible, and you can't see any leaks, then is the time to bleed.

let us know how you get on!

Em
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Sorry - Tony was busy answereing as well as me.....my god - I seemd to have learnt sommat from this forum, coz bits of what I said match to his!!!

Em
x

ps we have a haynes too!!

ermie571 wrote:.....my god - I seemd to have learnt sommat from this forum . . .

Same goes for me Emma

Took me ages to trype all that!

Tony

Well, its all very much appreciated guys!

And what you describe about the acrid smoke possibly being from leaking coolant onto the exhaust areas, Em, seems about right.

Putting my cameras batteries on charge - I think I'm going to need to take some pics as Tony suggested.

Off to the wiki for me I think

yours is rhd right?

so passenger side, to rear if its anything like mine is where the thermostat housing and long metal pipe are located. The metal pipe is prone to rust through....fun your fingers along it....is it damp? They are now available from JK....

Em
x

When you say expansion tank are you talking about the top up tank (behind the number plate flap)? Only asking as the level in my expansion tank never changes but no matter how many times I fill up the top up tank it goes down. I've no idea where it goes (to be honest I probably don't want to know) but it never over heats so I've learned to live with it.

Yes, the one behind the number plate flap. But I think both tanks are bone dry on my van, which is not good.
Haven't had a chance to run through the procedures listed yet.
Life gets in the way. Grrrrr.

Em - I'll PM you about Sunday. possibly can make it over for a brew

Sarah

ok sarah - look forward to hearing from you..

Em
x

Apologies to all and I feel a total tidiot wwriting this...

My boyfriend turned up and checked the main water bottle. its full.

He ran engine. After a few minutes the smoke started. He says it is probably the rocker cover gasket gone on the lhs (looking down from rear of engine) as its dripping oil (not a lot) onto the exhaust directly underneath the rocker cover plate.

Sorry to go on about water, etc. But atleast its taught me loads about the water system (I initially wiggled main bottle - couldn't see any movement, so assumed it was dry.

I'll probably need a new pair of rocker covers; rocker gasket and rocker clips. But its best for me not to assume anything from now on - I'll respectfully wait for any advice in this matter.

Oh, and when I gleefully said "...as theres water I can drive it now...", boyfriend gave me the quiet treatment, so I guess I can't...?


Sarah

yeah - I would have thought you can drive it.....at least get it down to mine on sunday. Check you oil level first though, and top it up if necessary!

Will do rocker cover gaskets in between giving my cooling system abuse!!

Em