And make that a *good* 1/2" breaker bar, Snap-On or Craftsman. I just broke my
2nd GEL Tools breaker bar taking wheel nuts off (I torque them correctly, but
passenger side always seems to tighten up), 1st was replaced free when I broke it
doing a diesel head gasket. Just because a tool has a lifetime warranty doesn't mean
it's any good...

On 19 Sep 2003 at 19:51, Michael Snow <mwsnow@COX.NET> wrote:

>    If you have combustion gases leaking into the coolant, they should
> accumulate in the expansion tank when the pressure cap is in place.  I
> had a diesel head with a 15mm crack in the combustion chamber that
> caused a steady stream of gases into the coolant by the time I replaced it.
>    Replacing a diesel head gasket is relatively simple, but tedious.  To
> complete the job, you need all of the tools required to check and adjust
> injection pump timing as well as a suitable torque wrench, breaker bar,
> and 12 point socket for the head bolts.  Oh, and a few beers (but wait
> until after the breaker bar routine).
>
> Mike Snow
> 1982 Westfalia diesel
>
> Felder wrote:
> > Hello,
> >
> > Some of you are aware of the fact that I blew a hard-to-find radiator
> > hose about a month ago, and I still don't have it's replacement from
> > VOA.
> >
> > In the meantime, I've cobbled together frankenhose, which looks pretty
> > darn good considering that it's part original hose, part jetta hose and
> > part home depot fitting.
> >
> > Fits like a glove.
> >
> > Anyway, I put it in and started the air bleeding process as outlined in
> > this list's FAQ. I noticed immediately upon startup that there was a
> > hint of vapor out the top of the water tank as soon as I started the
> > engine.
> >
> > That made me think that there might be a head gasket problem, and if so
> > that is probably what blew the hose in the first place.
> >
> > The engine starts a little rough but seems to run OK, it's the first
> > diesel I've ever messed with so I'm not sure what's "right."
> >
> > Anyway, what else should I look for in the way of blown gasket symptoms?
> >
> > If it is a blown head gasket, what's usually involved in fixing them,
> > and how much does it cost to have a shop do it?
> >
> > The air bleeding process was inconclusive, that is, it never yielded a
> > full flow of liquid. It got too dark to mess with, so I closed
> > everything up and left the car on jackstands to try again from cold
> > tomorrow.
> >
> > Any opinion welcome!
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Jim
> >
> > 90 Carat
> > 83 diesel (maybe)
>

--
Shawn Wright
http://Zuiko.sls.bc.ca/swright
'88 Westy 375k
'85 Jetta D 263k
'85 Jetta TD 482k (retired)
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