[Spencer2362]

Hi everyone so a 81 vw rabbit pickup I bought is having the weirdest possibly blown head gasket symptoms. There's a small amount of steam that comes from the coolant overflow, but it doesn't use any coolant. No milky oil, no smoke out exhaust, doesn't over heat. It's developed a fuel leak which appears to be coming from the back of the head? There's lots of oxidation around it. Anyone have any suggestions or theory's?

 

[briano1234]

Head gaskets usually don't leak fuel.
Gasser or Diesel.

Quick head gasket test is.
Cold engine.
Remove the cap off the expansion tank.
Tie a latex glove over the opening of the Expansion tank tightly.
Start the engine, and from under the hood rev the engine to 3000 rpm for about 45 seconds, if the glove inflates and give you the finger, Bad Head gasket.
after 50-60 seconds the glove will inflate because of the warming a/f.

Another sign is Ballooning hoses after a warmed engine as they will swell and be hard to compress.

I can think of bad freeze plugs especially on a diesel with a block heater, the heaters do go bad and start to leak.

Valve cover gaskets can leak, especially if you are missing the windage tray over the cam, it was a 82.5-83 add on, that the 81's were missing.

 

[Spencer2362]

It's a diesel, awesome I'll do more looking into that thanks.

 

[sgnimj96]

Diesel fuel leaks around the head would be from the injectors themselves,the lines, or the pump. Pictures might help

 

[briano1234]

Not from, the back of the head usually unless he has fuel pouring in to the cylinders and out the exhaust flange. He stated steam, which leads me to think of a freeze plug or a hose that has a pin hole and spraying on the exhaust.

 

[Spencer2362]

Diesel fuel leaks around the head would be from the injectors themselves,the lines, or the pump. Pictures might help

I will get some pics I just replaced the injectors on it, there are no visible leaks anywhere around the injectors or the lines, there were no leaks on the tops of the pump I haven't looked that much more into it.

 

[Spencer2362]

Not from, the back of the head usually unless he has fuel pouring in to the cylinders and out the exhaust flange. He stated steam, which leads me to think of a freeze plug or a hose that has a pin hole and spraying on the exhaust.

the steam is coming from the coolant reservoir though.

 

[Spencer2362]

Not from, the back of the head usually unless he has fuel pouring in to the cylinders and out the exhaust flange. He stated steam, which leads me to think of a freeze plug or a hose that has a pin hole and spraying on the exhaust.

I didn't think of that, the fuel could leak into the cylinders. Because when I shut it off all the fuel goes back to the tank. Air fills the lines and I have to turn it over for like 30 seconds to start it. I did a pressure test and there was no leak besides where it was dripping off the back of the head.