Date:         Fri, 2 Aug 2002 17:08:15 -0300
Reply-To:     Various <AllStuff@HANS-WILLY.MYIP.ORG>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Various <AllStuff@HANS-WILLY.MYIP.ORG>
Subject:      WBX Leak FIXED!!!!!!!
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252"

Volks, 

The subject line is perhaps misleading or a little premature as far as a
long term fix, but I thought I'd share this possiblity of at least a
temporary fix to leaky head (wasser jacket) gaskets.

The coolant had been dripping, increasingly to the point of making a small
puddle, say 10 cm dia. when parked.  I investigated and located the leak. I
thought to myself, self, there must be a way of reseating the gasket without
the major engine teardown.

So I took a big wide flat blade screwdriver and +/- kneaded the gasket at
the leaky area, with a fair bit of force, being careful not to cut into the
rubber nor to (grossly) dislodge it from it's seat.

After 2 months, 2 fairly major trips through very challenging roads (Cape
Breton and Gaspé Peninsula) and 3000 kms, the engine is still dry.

I'm not saying this will work every time, nor that it will work permanently
(that would take a 3.3L Subaru SVX motor!), but I'm happy with the results
so far. 

It might be worth a try for you sometime too.

Alias Fred, aka Schtroumpf Bleu, renamed from Bleu Schtroumpf