Jack,
I fought this battle. Finally I installed a pressure gauge in line :
http://neksiwel.20m.com/cgi-bin/i/images/2gauges.jpg
brought the cylinder under test to TDC then locked * and pressurized it.
When the gauge started to rise, the culprit was found.
Ken Lewis
http://neksiwel.20m.com/

* pressurizing the cylinder at TDC will cause it to move (duh), usually
putting it in 4th gear w/E-brake was sufficient. Bring the air pressure up
slowly.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jack R." <jack007@COMCAST.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, October 23, 2007 4:38 PM
Subject: Re: [VANAGON] Overheating, smoking, rough running

> Jim,
>
> A simple lead down should help determine if you have a cracked head.
>
> As for a cheap repair idea... I used Bars Lead Head Gasket Repair on my
> son's 91 BMW 325i, when it had 200k on it.  Followed the procedures to the
> letter (remove ALL signs of coolant before putting in the system).  The
> car
> had visible white vapor from the exhaust prior to the $10 repair, and I am
> pleased to say that he drove 50k more miles, before other items failed!!
> The head is still holding.  http://www.barsproducts.com/1100.htm
>
> Since the Vanagon is so tough to burp all the air out, it will be a bit
> more
> challenging, but a lot easier and cheaper than a head gasket repair.
>
> Best of luck to you!
>
> Let us know if this fixes your problem.
>
> Jack R.
> 84 Westy Wolfie
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Jim Felder
> Sent: Tuesday, October 23, 2007 3:57 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Overheating, smoking, rough running
>
> My 90 is losing water somewhere to the point that the reservoir must
> be topped off every few weeks. I thought I had a water pump going bad
> but I recently noticed a lot of white smoke on startup and until the
> engine is good and hot, The car idles rough. Even when it's warmed up,
> the car runs a bit rough (with the engine revving free, it seems OK
> under load but a little lumpy at low speeds).
>
> I guess this means that I may have a cracked head or a head gasket
> problem, since I can't account for the water loss on the outside of
> the car.  I have't noticed any gunk in the coolant, though.
>
> What can I do to verify the head situation?  I have a standard
> compression tester but I don't think it has the reach to get down into
> a vanagon head.
>
> Jim
>