I was on the M4 last week on a surf trip to Wales when I felt a slight loss of drive, looked in the mirror and noticed white smoke out the back and white smoke from the engine bay. The van was recovered back home where I checked it over. It dumped all its water, so I topped it up and saw it flood out from the bottom of the engine bay.. Couldn't see any burst hoses..
The van wont start.. and a few people have simply said the head gasket has blown.. If when you top the water up and it quickly leaks back out is this a possible indication it isn't the head gasket or is it irrelevant?
If the head gasket has blown does anyone have indication on costs from previous experience?
Any thoughts or advice would be great! Gutted to see the surf bus back on the recovery truck...
If its not head gasket and not a split hose could have a rusted core plug or heater matrix.
But if it doesn't want to start I would say it is the head gasket.
The fact that it turns over is good news, I know its not starting but nothing catastrophic has happened.
The leak that you describe of this magnitude will be visual. You should be able to see whats leaking.
get the belly pan off if it has one and physically look whilst someone tops up the water.
If its the head gasket that has gone a lot will need to be removed but not an expensive fix. If you can take the head off yourself that is.
Could be the water pump given up and spilling everything somehow. Im not sure of the ins and outs on the workings of the pump its self but maybe this could be a possibility. Again water pump isn't an expensive part really and again if your handy with spanners and got the specific tools is a doable job at home. But may need timing look at to be sure its all hunky dory.
Untill its running again you wont know if its correct so save your self time and do this.
Im definatly not an expert in the slightest but theres not a lot to these vans and self diagnosis is easy.(especially with the help of this forum) Even if you need help with the labour to fix it.
Hope you can find the problem. Just post a picture of what ever and someone will help you 100% :ILU: A:
Hi mate, I'm no expert either, however my vans (2.4d) head was severly warped but I did not have water gushing out, so I would not suspect gasket. If it really is loosing water that quick I suspect it must be hose/water pump/ thermostat housing maybe?
I decided to tackle the head gasket myself a couple of weeks back, mines all back on now minus timing and aux belts and if it wasn't for me needing a new head cost would have been as little as £150. As it is with mine I've decided to do water pump all belts new head new gasket, thermostat, all exhaust gaskets and still coming in around £300. If its the head gasket and you decide to tackle it yourself take your time take plenty of photos and you will be fine :0)
Hi mate, I'm no expert either, however my vans (2.4d) head was severly warped but I did not have water gushing out, so I would not suspect gasket. If it really is loosing water that quick I suspect it must be hose/water pump/ thermostat housing maybe?
I decided to tackle the head gasket myself a couple of weeks back, mines all back on now minus timing and aux belts and if it wasn't for me needing a new head cost would have been as little as £150. As it is with mine I've decided to do water pump all belts new head new gasket, thermostat, all exhaust gaskets and still coming in around £300. If its the head gasket and you decide to tackle it yourself take your time take plenty of photos and you will be fine :0)
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