Well, that was a letdown....

[westcoaster]

I had a drip, drip, dribble coming from behind the timing belt cover area. Naturally, I said to myself "self, you have a bad headgasket" So I go to town and pull the whole thing apart , buy the parts and reassemble....


I go to refill the rad, drip, drip dribble.... (insert favorite expletive here)


Now I said to myself "self, you have bigger problems....."

Doesn't look like the head. It's coming out from under that. Back to pull it all apart again.....

[rabbitman]

Could be a leaky frost plug........

[westcoaster]

Could be a leaky frost plug........

Nope, it's coming from behind the timing belt cover (this engine is in my suzuki samurai)

There are two brackets bolted to the front of the engine. One is a thin tin plate with the clamps for the timing belt cover. The other is the bracket the IP attaches to.

Coolant is flowing along the top of the IP mounting bracket and dripping down from there. I'll need to pull the IP and all the bracketry to source this leak.

best case: there are a couple bolt holes that appear to go through to the water jacket. These are underneath where the coolant is coming from. Generally water doesn't flow up hill....

then there is a remote possability the head or gasket didn't seal

worst case, cracked block....

What are my options if the block is cracked?

[rabbitman]

IIRC there's a frost plug in the block behind the IP bracket.......or maybe on the side of the head......I'm still tryin' to save yer block here.......

[maxfax]

There is a small frost plug on the end of the head....Kinda behind the bottom of the cam sprocket... I don;t have a block sitting to verify, but I think there are only those three plugs along the side...

[burn_your_money]

I don't think VW has any bolts that go into the cooling jackets.

That front plug that maxfax is talking about would be where I started looking.

[westcoaster]

Yes, there is a frost plug on the front of the head up and to the left of the tensioner bolt (at least on the head I have on the shelf)

Sadly, that's not where my dribble is coming from. Still from the right and along the IP bracket...

I pulled the nut/bolt deal that the one bolt in the timing belt attaches to. My leak then started drippling from that hole.

Heep in mind this is all flowing from a system that has no pressure in it yet.....


Stoopid VW engine....

[westcoaster]

Oh yeah.....

I don't even need to refill to see where it's leaking from....


Can this be patched or is it junk?

[burn_your_money]

Yikes! Do you even have compression in that cylinder?

[westcoaster]

Have no idea. I didn't notice any leaks when I pulled off the old headgasket.




Meh, atleast I didn't spring for a new head when they told me this one was junk! (for cracks between the valves)

[RabbitJockey]

well if the crack is only in the water jacket and not the cylinder its self, and the corner bolt there still goes to some solid threads (maybe switch to studs).  assuming those 2 things you could try jb weld.  it sounds like half assing it, and truely it is, but it could work.

[burn_your_money]

I'd be tempted to not use that bolt there.

[rabbitman]

  what did you do to that poor engine!!! Are you running any boost? wow, that's pretty bad

[westcoaster]

I haven't even run half a tank through the thing. As best I can tell it's bone stock. I have no idea what would have caused this. Was more than likely that way when I got it.

Went after it with brake cleaner and a toothbrush. Now the whole crack stands out nice and bold like...

I guess the only question is how much bolt is holding the head down in that corner. I might just stop fooling around and go buy myself a long block. A kick in the jewels no doubt, but at least it (should) have good compression and oil pressure....

[Vincent Waldon]

Yeah, in my mind your last picture is the final nail in the coffin.