Former VWDieselParts.com Forum

Is it worth going down to the point where it shines or can I just remove the crud and carbon but not worry if there's a little discoloration in the pitted areas?

I've got it mostly done, but I'm paranoid that its not squeaky clean...

What do people use to clean the head mating surface before changing a head gasket? I'd use a fine sandpaper but I'm close to the 0.004" tolerance - or am at least afraid I am- and don't want to remove any metal...

Very helpful, thank you libbybapa.

Ah ha.

Thanks Volks... And duly noted.

It would appear to be that fitting...

Perhaps dry the manifold, and then crank the engine for a few seconds only and then stare at everything to catch the fist oozing. it's pretty dirty in there but that's worth a shot ... Could it be from one of the fuel line fittings? By fuel fittings, do you mean the fittings that connect the manifo...

Update: I tested the glow plug that was failing and it seems to still work. So it must have been contacting something (overtightened, I presume). Upon testing the other glow plug that shorted out, it is toast...

I managed to pick it out and get the bolt installed with a new washer. Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to have solved the problem. The leak instead seems to be coming from below that and to the right (looking down at the manifold, with the lines going away from it), or that fitting. Next step is to...

There are 2 copper washers on both outlet and inlet banjos. Your leak likely as not is from the central bolt that you insert the timing gauge into. That bolt sees the maximum pressures from the piston, and needs to be fairly snug. That washer is so small that it work hardens quickly with reuse, and...

Fatmobile wrote:What brand?

Meyle fast plugs (from Jack).

Fatmobile wrote:Failing closed is pretty rare.

Yeah, the fact that the same one has failed twice in the same fashion made me think that there might be something else going on (i.e. "user error").

Quantum-man wrote:Probably not more than 10 seconds, is what I need down to about -5 deg C.

Very enlightening! Thanks!

Old leaky injector leaking on the glow plug tips and burning them off? Are they burned off, or just not working? All I know is that the glow plug worked for a while, then the fuse started blowing and I isolated it to the one plug. When I removed the connection from the plug, it stopped blowing the ...

:idea: Remember to check that the relay is not staying on/coming on for too long, or even coming back on. Do not forget that the LED is a separate circuit from the power circuit. :idea: Ah ha! Yeah, I'm just using a switch and a ford solenoid. What's the longest I should be cycling them? I was goin...

I've had two glow plugs fail closed, both times it was the same plug: the one the closest to the timing belt. From what people have said, I might be tightening them in too much, so I'm going to try to go easier when I install the next one. Is there any other reason they might be shorting closed? Or ...

It's been a rough couple of weeks since getting towed back, and I haven't been as motivated to work on the bus as I'd like. I suspect at least some of that is due to not being able to find a rhythm on going out to the garage. I *think* I solved the fuel leak (end of the fuel line connecting to the b...