Weeping Head Gasket - Weeping owner :-(

[Cruz]

To begin with 1983 Petrol 1.9DG

Had a new exhaust fitted this week and during fitting the stud tabs on the pushrod protective covers all fell off due to corrosion so I'm currently running with none on which means I can see the heads from under the van.

During a brief spell yesterday when the works car park had dried I popped my head under to admire the new tubes. I noticed a small drip. I waited for another but it never came and I gave up waiting and went back to work. Last night when I parked up I put some cardboard under the van with some blue kimwipe taped to it. This morning there was a saucer sized wet patch right under the left cylinder head. So I got on my oily overalls and slid under the van and found that I have a small weep where the head meets the block.

It's the moment I have always known was coming and it's such a pain as the engine runs and has run really well ever since I bought the van 5 years ago

I'm heading to Gasure on Wednesday for something else so I'll ask Steve to kindly have a quick shufty to confirm what I think but it's not looking good.

I suppose it's a case of saving up now for a new engine as the head may not go fully for a while or it may go next week?

I doubt anyone has any reassuring words for me?

[pocolow]

Ohh dear ,I wonder if having the exhaust done has stressed a weak spot, or do you think it was weaping before but you didn't notice .

[dansimpson]

As you have nothing to lose, drop a can of K Seal in the cooling system, worked for a very rusty rover that had an engine prone to blowing cylinder heads

[Cruz]

Coolant level in the topup tank has always gone down slowly over a few weeks and I suspect because of the protective plates I haven't noticed it

I may try the k seal

[petermoore]

Strip it down and replace the gaskets if the K seal dosn't work. There should be no need for a replacement engine if everything else is ok.

[kevtherev]

Wynns is a good sealant
Shepster had this problem and it was cured with wynns.

personally I would just keep an eye on it.
If you haven't changed the coolant in the last two years I would change it now to clear the phosphate content which will accellerate the flange pitting thats caused this

[Cruz]

I've had the coolant changed regularly while I have had the van. Cannot vouch for the previous 22 years though

[pocolow]

Used K seal a couple of times on both my van and the golf (radiator leaks) and it did the job nicely. Done a few thousands miles since no problem. For about £15 you've got nothing to loose.

[Cruz]

Cheers Mark. I've seen it on fleabay for under a tenner

[icosahedron]

While a sealant will stop the leak, it will not prevent the rubber seal from splitting, which is inevitable. I would also now replace the o-rings on the barrels and have peace of mind and reliable motoring for the next 20 years. Did mine three years ago. Managed the whole job without having to drop the engine with a tool I made for compressing the rings while installing the barrels.

[Cruz]

Drove to work today and when I got there at 6.30am I put some card and tissue wipe down again to see if it was still dripping but nothing so far after 2 hours

[Ian Hulley]

That seal is also something that other leaks track along and drip off ... if for example the t/stat housing was weeping on the late stylee housing. I'd be keeping a close eye on it and monitor your levels. Having said that it doe sound as though you've disturbed it while doing the exhaust and it may be time to assume the position

Good luck, Ian.

[Cruz]

The weeping may have been there for a few years as it would have dripped onto the protector plates. It's only because they are not on at the moment that I have noticed a leak. The engine has always run fine

I have regularly had to top up the expansion tank behind the flap every month or so but I've always had other minor leaks from bodged plastic front to back pipes (which are now stainless and watertight)