I have a horrible feeling my T4 van's head gasket is toast

[mangocrazy]

Remind me, how old is the van? Trade-in value?

I tend to be a bit of a 'the devil you know' fan but your use of the van for trekking across France ups the reliability requirement. If the change means going for a low miles van with warranty then If it means going for a high miles more unknown quantity then

M42? Interesting. Not just a straight hack up the M1?

The van is a 52 plate (so 22-23 years old). The van does absolutely everything I want, so if I can keep it, I will. But everything has a lifespan and the old girl may have reached the end of hers.

My route back from Pompey is M27 - M3 - A34 - M40 - M42 - M1. I have dabbled with alternatives but that seems about the best.

[mangocrazy]

Recon engine?

DIY head gasket shouldn't be out of the abilities of a half confident spannerman if you know a good shop who can skim the head and as long as no liners have dropped (if it's a wet liner engine).

Yes, a recon engine is definitely an option, as is new gasket and head skim, but that depends on finding a good spannerman who knows these engines and doesn't charge a king's ransom.

The only scary bit for me would be timing it all back up.

That's precisely why I have zero interest in trying it myself...

[weeksy]

that depends on finding a good spannerman who knows these engines and doesn't charge a king's ransom.

Browsing google it seems you're looking at a grand or so....

[mangocrazy]

that depends on finding a good spannerman who knows these engines and doesn't charge a king's ransom.

Browsing google it seems you're looking at a grand or so....

I'd take that in a heartbeat.

[KungFooBob]

I still reckon it's going to be a leaky pipe somewhere.

[Count Steer]

Remind me, how old is the van? Trade-in value?

I tend to be a bit of a 'the devil you know' fan but your use of the van for trekking across France ups the reliability requirement. If the change means going for a low miles van with warranty then If it means going for a high miles more unknown quantity then

M42? Interesting. Not just a straight hack up the M1?

The van is a 52 plate (so 22-23 years old). The van does absolutely everything I want, so if I can keep it, I will. But everything has a lifespan and the old girl may have reached the end of hers.

My route back from Pompey is M27 - M3 - A34 - M40 - M42 - M1. I have dabbled with alternatives but that seems about the best.

Ah. Didn't realise you landed at Portsmouth.

Yup, 22 years is a fair innings and I guess lots of components have a design life, but if you're happy with all the non-engine bits and you've kept corrosion at bay it's a decision I guess.

[mangocrazy]

I use two garages to service the van, depending on what needs doing. The first is a small indie, one guy does the admin, the other does the spannering and I've known them for over 20 years. Rob the spanner guy is more than capable of doing the job but their garage space is limited and he'd probably need some assistance. Plus they wouldn't want to tie up garage space for an extended period. I'll ask them, but I suspect the answer will be no.

The other is a VW specialist - Autohaus Dolby - and they charge book rates and have a pretty swanky workshop area; high ceilings, loads of 2 and 4 post ramps, mechanics wear VW overalls - you get the picture. I doubt they'd do it for a grand or so...

[mangocrazy]

I still reckon it's going to be a leaky pipe somewhere.

I'm rather hoping so, and the reason it might be so is that I seem to find damp patches on the plastic floor covering in the driver/passenger space. A leak from the heater matrix perhaps?

[KungFooBob]

I've passed Autohaus Dolby a few times when I mix up the commute, but never used them

I have used The German Auto Centre a couple of times and had good service at around a third cheaper than the main dealers. Not seen much older stuff in the workshop tho'

[mangocrazy]

Yup, 22 years is a fair innings and I guess lots of components have a design life, but if you're happy with all the non-engine bits and you've kept corrosion at bay it's a decision I guess.

Yes, I doesn't owe me agreat deal (if at all), I agree. Part of my reluctance (apart from the cost) to switch to a newer van is the level of electrono-trickery on modern stuff. My T4 isn't without some of this, but it's nothing like the extent there is in a modern van.

The body seems pretty solid and stuff like brakes/suspension etc, I class as consumables so if I can get it fixed for (say) a couple of grand I'd take that happily.

[mangocrazy]

I've passed Autohaus Dolby a few times when I mix up the commute, but never used them

I have used The German Auto Centre a couple of times and had good service at around a third cheaper than the main dealers. Not seen much older stuff in the workshop tho'

German Auto Centre are only about a mile away from Autohaus, aren't they?

[KungFooBob]

There's two sites, one is just car sales, the workshop is next to sytner BMW, Dolby is near Centretainment.

[KungFooBob]

And German Auto Centre have quoted me for work via email before without needing to see the car, might be worth a try even if it's just to get a benchmark figure.

[Count Steer]

Yup, 22 years is a fair innings and I guess lots of components have a design life, but if you're happy with all the non-engine bits and you've kept corrosion at bay it's a decision I guess.

Yes, I doesn't owe me agreat deal (if at all), I agree. Part of my reluctance (apart from the cost) to switch to a newer van is the level of electrono-trickery on modern stuff. My T4 isn't without some of this, but it's nothing like the extent there is in a modern van.

The body seems pretty solid and stuff like brakes/suspension etc, I class as consumables so if I can get it fixed for (say) a couple of grand I'd take that happily.

As you say, modern doesn't necessarily mean better. The coolant light came on on one of my (German as it happens) vehicles when it was about 5 years old. Topped it up and forgot about it. Took it for service at a main dealer some weeks later. They sent me a video showing where coolant was dripping from the engine bay.

Ended up costing me £1k.

[weeksy]

Yup, 22 years is a fair innings and I guess lots of components have a design life, but if you're happy with all the non-engine bits and you've kept corrosion at bay it's a decision I guess.

Yes, I doesn't owe me agreat deal (if at all), I agree. Part of my reluctance (apart from the cost) to switch to a newer van is the level of electrono-trickery on modern stuff. My T4 isn't without some of this, but it's nothing like the extent there is in a modern van.

The body seems pretty solid and stuff like brakes/suspension etc, I class as consumables so if I can get it fixed for (say) a couple of grand I'd take that happily.

but the electric bits are NICE, like the heated seats, cruise, air-con, heated screen etc etc.

[mangocrazy]

Yes, I doesn't owe me agreat deal (if at all), I agree. Part of my reluctance (apart from the cost) to switch to a newer van is the level of electrono-trickery on modern stuff. My T4 isn't without some of this, but it's nothing like the extent there is in a modern van.

The body seems pretty solid and stuff like brakes/suspension etc, I class as consumables so if I can get it fixed for (say) a couple of grand I'd take that happily.

but the electric bits are NICE, like the heated seats, cruise, air-con, heated screen etc etc.

Yeah, I get that but I'm a natural-born Luddite and the flipside is that it's just more stuff to go wrong that I can't fix. From everything I've heard, the T4s are the last of the reliable Transporters. The later ones have a poor reliability record despite being far plusher, having all the toys and being nicer to drive.

Having said that, I'd probably go for a Renault Trafic if I was replacing it.

[weeksy]

Having said that, I'd probably go for a Renault Trafic if I was replacing it.

wash your mouth out with soap !

[mangocrazy]

Having said that, I'd probably go for a Renault Trafic if I was replacing it.

wash your mouth out with soap !

What would you choose? And why the hate for the Renault? Is it cos it's Fronch?

[weeksy]

Having said that, I'd probably go for a Renault Trafic if I was replacing it.

wash your mouth out with soap !

What would you choose? And why the hate for the Renault? Is it cos it's Fronch?

In that size van, without doubt the Transit Custom. Mate of mine owns a van dealership https://www.anchorvans.co.uk/used/filters/vat/NoVat/
Recently he met us down in Alps with family for a trip, he came down in a Transit Custom, when obviously he could have brought any van he wanted. I asked him and he said "it's the nicest van to drive by miles". Having tested loads before i bought my Custom, i have to say i agree with him.
I've done 45,000 in 22 months in mine, i don't regret it for a second.

[mangocrazy]

What would you choose? And why the hate for the Renault? Is it cos it's Fronch?

In that size van, without doubt the Transit Custom. Mate of mine owns a van dealership https://www.anchorvans.co.uk/used/filters/vat/NoVat/
Recently he met us down in Alps with family for a trip, he came down in a Transit Custom, when obviously he could have brought any van he wanted. I asked him and he said "it's the nicest van to drive by miles". Having tested loads before i bought my Custom, i have to say i agree with him.
I've done 45,000 in 22 months in mine, i don't regret it for a second.

Prior to the T4 I had two Transits - the first one got nicked and the tin worm finally did for its replacement. The only thing that puts me off the modern Transits is the wet belt saga. So many fail prematurely and take the rest of the engine with them. If it has a wet belt, I'm out no matter how nice the rest of the van is.