Leaking Waterboxer.

1
Gidday all,
nearly 2 weeks ago our engine started the typical leaking from the
head gasket to cylinders numbers 3 & 4. It has had a tiny bit of
seepage (from both heads actually) since we bought the bus some 3
years ago, but last week it reall y started leaking - a 300mm x 300mm
wet patch on the drive, and visble wetness around at the head gasket,
and drips coming off of the exhaust.
One part of me was upset, the other jumping for joy. "Now it's time
for the engine upgrade" :-))))) I thought. But now, nothing???
Is this a common situation does any one know.
The engine has done 164 000 MILES.
Thanks,
Andy
Ceduna
South Oz.
2
hi andy,
 
have a look at this page: www.vanagon.com and follow the link "problems".
 
the water leaking is explained there very good!
 
cheers
 
joachim
3
Thanks Joachim, however I was asking to find out if the appearance
and then disappearence of the leaking was common, or noticed by
anyone.

Thanks,
Andy.
4
Andy,

I don't have first hand experience but I know my fathers 92 model Syncro has an intermittent coolant leak around the water-pump pulley. He (I think) lets the motor cool then sprays the leak area with WD40 and the leak does not return for a couple of months. The leak is more consistent during the hotter months when the coolant pressure is higher in the motor, yet as far as I know the leak will disappear and then return again later. My father does not drive the car that much and so the mileage is still low.

It appears that VW's don't follow the typical fault procedure that many other car makes do and they like to keep you guessing. If you keep topping up the engine regularly with quality coolant you might make it to the 200,000 mile mark.

Good luck with your future travels.

Cheers
Scott Pitcher
Terrigal
(NSW Central Coast)

-----Original Message-----
From: raredownunder [mailto:ruthandy@bigpond.com]
Sent: Friday, 24 September 2004 8:40 PM
To: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Syncro_T3_Australia] Leaking Waterboxer.

Thanks Joachim, however I was asking to find out if the appearance
and then disappearence of the leaking was common, or noticed by
anyone.

Thanks,
Andy.





Yahoo! Groups Links
5
Andy

I had a similar thing happen (used it as an excuse to get a Subaru engine too) but the
leak stabilised itself after a while. I think that the anticorrosion/antifreeze additives in
the water start to crystallise at the leak on exposure to the air, ie that light-blue
crusty stuff slowly starts to build up, and eventually it seals the leak. That's my theory
anyway.

Vincent


--- In Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com, "raredownunder" <ruthandy@b...>
wrote:
> Gidday all,
> nearly 2 weeks ago our engine started the typical leaking from the
> head gasket to cylinders numbers 3 & 4. It has had a tiny bit of
> seepage (from both heads actually) since we bought the bus some 3
> years ago, but last week it reall y started leaking - a 300mm x 300mm
> wet patch on the drive, and visble wetness around at the head gasket,
> and drips coming off of the exhaust.
> One part of me was upset, the other jumping for joy. "Now it's time
> for the engine upgrade" :-))))) I thought. But now, nothing???
> Is this a common situation does any one know.
> The engine has done 164 000 MILES.
> Thanks,
> Andy
> Ceduna
> South Oz.
6
Bericht
hi vincent,
 
i suppose you're right about that bleu stuff, friends told me to never use other cooling water than what volkswagen prescribes. I suppose there are certain additives in it that are not in the "pink" cooling water you can buy everywhere. Could it be as simple as that ?
 
Mike Plompen
16" crewcab belgium
-----Oorspronkelijk bericht-----
Van: springfieldsyncro [mailto:springfieldhouse@xtra.co.nz]
Verzonden: zaterdag 2 oktober 2004 11:25
Aan: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com
Onderwerp: [Syncro_T3_Australia] Re: Leaking Waterboxer.

Andy

I had a similar thing happen (used it as an excuse to get a Subaru engine too) but the
leak stabilised itself after a while. I think that the anticorrosion/antifreeze additives in
the water start to crystallise at the leak on exposure to the air, ie that light-blue
crusty stuff slowly starts to build up, and eventually it seals the leak. That's my theory
anyway.

Vincent


--- In Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com, "raredownunder" <ruthandy@b...>
wrote:
> Gidday all,
> nearly 2 weeks ago our engine started the typical leaking from the
> head gasket to cylinders numbers 3 & 4. It has had a tiny bit of
> seepage (from both heads actually) since we bought the bus some 3
> years ago, but last week it reall y started leaking - a 300mm x 300mm
> wet patch on the drive, and visble wetness around at the head gasket,
> and drips coming off of the exhaust.
> One part of me was upset, the other jumping for joy. "Now it's time
> for the engine upgrade" :-))))) I thought. But now, nothing???
> Is this a common situation does any one know.
> The engine has done 164 000 MILES.
> Thanks,
> Andy
> Ceduna
> South Oz.


7
Vincent,
I would be interested to hear from you what you did for engine
xmember, plumbing, accelerator cable etc. Off list if you would
prefer - I don't mind. I know there is loads on the Subaruvanagon
list but I am always keen to hear peoples experiences.
Cheers,
Andy.
Ceduna.
8
Andy

I haven't put the donor 2.2 Subaru engine in yet, it's still sitting on the engine stand
waiting for the day. Since the wassseboxer stopped leaking there's no great urgency
anymore, and it is still pulling strong (or as strong as 2.1 litres can â€" which isn't
much admittedly).

All those conversion details you mention are things I'm still figuring/sorting out so I
can't offer any firsthand advice â€" yet. I will keep you posted when the conversion
does take place.

Incidentally, VW has now officially retired the blue G11 coolant additive and replaced
it with G12, which is a purple colour.

Vincent




--- In Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com, "raredownunder" <ruthandy@b...>
wrote:
>
> Vincent,
> I would be interested to hear from you what you did for engine
> xmember, plumbing, accelerator cable etc. Off list if you would
> prefer - I don't mind. I know there is loads on the Subaruvanagon
> list but I am always keen to hear peoples experiences.
> Cheers,
> Andy.
> Ceduna.
9
You guys thinking of doing a subaru conversion should not wait. I
contemplated doing the conversion for a long time. Finnaly went
forward. I have a 1990 syncro westy and it has transformed it
into a very smooth and powerfull vehicle that is easier to drive
and more fun too. You will be happy you did. I bought my syncro
from the dealer new in 1990 so I was reluctant to do the switch. I
even was going to save the origional motor, but the subaru is so
good that I would never go back. Hope this will help those of you
sitting on the fence.

Don Johnson
moderator, doublecab list.

PS. the Doka is next!

--- In Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com,
"springfieldsyncro" <springfieldhouse@x> wrote:
>
> Andy
>
> I haven't put the donor 2.2 Subaru engine in yet, it's still sitting
on the engine stand
> waiting for the day. Since the wassseboxer stopped leaking
there's no great urgency
> anymore, and it is still pulling strong (or as strong as 2.1 litres
can â€" which isn't
> much admittedly).
>
> All those conversion details you mention are things I'm still
figuring/sorting out so I
> can't offer any firsthand advice â€" yet. I will keep you posted
when the conversion
> does take place.
>
> Incidentally, VW has now officially retired the blue G11 coolant
additive and replaced
> it with G12, which is a purple colour.
>
> Vincent
>
>
>
>
> --- In Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com,
"raredownunder" <ruthandy@b...>
> wrote:
> >
> > Vincent,
> > I would be interested to hear from you what you did for
engine
> > xmember, plumbing, accelerator cable etc. Off list if you
would
> > prefer - I don't mind. I know there is loads on the
Subaruvanagon
> > list but I am always keen to hear peoples experiences.
> > Cheers,
> > Andy.
> > Ceduna.