Clouds of smoke...

[konadog]

So after driving for sometime (fully warmed up), I stopped in to get something and came out, started the bus and as I pulled away great clouds of grey-ish smoke poured out of the tail pipe. A few seconds later it cleared up. This has happened again a few times, say every 1 start up out of 10. Got an appt. with CCA lined up. I reckon it's a cracked head, though am watching the coolant to confirm... Ahh well....

[FalcoColumbarius]

How's the air filter element?

Falco.

[konadog]

New air filter 2,000 kms ago.

[Rattlenbang]

Grey smoke sure sounds like head. Been there...next time smell it to see if it's sweet. if so, yup.

[konadog]

Grey smoke sure sounds like head. Been there...next time smell it to see if it's sweet. if so, yup.

Did it spew every startup? Mine hasn't made any more smoke since....

[Rattlenbang]

Once it blew, it really let go with clouds of smoke. But I bought the van knowing the it needed a new head -the owner told me about it -but for several weeks everything seemed okay. I don't know how he knew, unless it had blown grey smoke for him in the past. It wasn't losing coolant. I thought maybe I just got lucky, then poof. If it did it once...

[konadog]

Happened again - and it smelled like coolant. Oh well. My turn.

[Rattlenbang]

That sucks. You gonna fix it yourself?

[konadog]

That sucks. You gonna fix it yourself?

It does, but hey.
No way am I gonna fix it myself. lol. I haven't pulled wrenches on my ride since my VW bus days. I'll let the pros at CCA take care of it. It will cost more money, but I'll feel more secure that it was done properly.

[Rattlenbang]

Oh boy. Up to 5 grand vs 1 grand. Glad that's an option for you. That's how I got my rig cause the previous owner didn't think the van was worth that kind of investment.

[konadog]

I do feel it's worth it, clearly. And I trust the boys at CCA will do the job properly and not rip me off.

[LMcD]

I was neglectful and lost my timing belt, which of course made me buy a new head, I have it all apart, and all the new parts are here. I am just waiting on the courage to put it all back together again.
My limited exp says that it is easy to take apart...my non-existant exp says that I have no idea how it goes back together.
I have to say that so far for me...this has been a great learning exp. Since i have decided to own such an odd vehicle i have come to realize it is probably best that I should know how to fix the old girl.
I hope to have her running by the end of next week.
I truly thank all the folks on here who have put "how to fix for dummines" and pic's and such things.

[islander20]

Let us know how much it costs to install a new head with CCAutos. Knock on wood I wont have to for a long time, would be nice to know what i'd be looking at though.

Sorry about your head!

[konadog]

Let us know how much it costs to install a new head with CCAutos. Knock on wood I wont have to for a long time, would be nice to know what i'd be looking at though.

Sorry about your head!

Thanks - I'll let you know in a week or so when the project gets done. Apparently it's pretty much a when, not an if, the head goes... CCA told me it'll be between $2,500.00 and $3,000.00, depending on when the timing belt was last changed.

[Rattlenbang]

That's cheap. Last estimate I heard was pushing 5 if head needed replacing.