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Date:         Thu, 10 Jan 2002 18:57:26 +0000
Reply-To:     jboldway@INTCON.NET
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "James T." <jboldway@INTCON.NET>
Subject:      wasserleaker comments

At 04:19 PM 1/10/02 -0800, you wrote:
>(have slight leak in head gasket - don't care - car can "mark its spot")
>
>This got my interest as I may have a slight leak in mine (not sure yet).
>How long can it leak before you can't keep coolant in it?


Went by my local mechanic and saw two other vanagons in his shop. One air
cooled, one wasserleaker. Wasserleaker had been "pissing" coolant for almost 3
years and owner wanted head gaskets replaced as the coolant on his garage made
it slippery - and he has kids - guess they slipped and fell down too many
times. Thought mine was waterpump for 2.5 years - was head gasket as part of
leak. Looks like they can leak "forever." Worried about move (Was Boeing
Engineer - my job ends Jan 25th and I will relocate to whereabouts unknown -
whenever I get a new job.) Worried about massive coolant failure in middle of
nowhere. I suggest driving for maximum of 2 hours, then when pulling off
highway allowing engine to run/cool for about 3 minutes. Keep tank replenished -
 don't allow air to get in!


>Dose leaking hurt anything if it always runs cool and has a full reserve?


Doesn't seem so so far.


>Does the coolant leak into the oil or just out?


 On mine just out. Well, not always - after stop after driving hard and if I
try to restart within 5 min I get a little bit of hydro-lock as engine is hard
to turn over as coolant must be in one combustion chamber.


>In other words can you drive with cofidence?


Not really, but it seems to keep going. Murphy (whom I want to track down and
beat up) seems to say it will fail when I move. If I get a relocation bonus I
will spend it on a new longblock as my 1.9L motor has 198K on original
heads/head gaskets.
>
>I really appreciate your response in advance.
>Thanks
>Steve Johnson
>' 91 Carat
>
>


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