Date:         Sat, 11 Jan 2003 21:43:40 -0500
Reply-To:     machfive@EXCITE.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Mark G <machfive@EXCITE.COM>
Subject:      Question about leaking head gasket.
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

 Listees:

Well, when I went to pick the Vanagon up from the mechanic, he put the Vanagon back up on the lift to show me the leaking head gasket on the passenger side.  It looks like fluid has been weeping out for at least a little while, but the amount is very slight.  The van's running strong and is not going through coolant too much. (I topped off from min to max mark in expansion tank the other day, and haven't had to do that for months.) So, for my 2.1L Waterboxer, I have 2 questions, keeping in mind that although I could probably change the head gasket myself, I will probably not be doing so based on lack of time and space to work.  Therefore:

1)What happens if I continue to drive with the leaking gasket? (I imagine it could progressively get worse, or theoretically it could get so bad that I'm blowing coolant out of the exhaust pipe or water and oil mix... ) But can I ruin/pit the head any more than it may already be by continuing to drive it?

2) The mechanic said that the job would be roughly $750.00, including machine work (if needed) Does this sound right?

TIA.


Mark Garcia
Alhambra, CA
1987 Vanagon Westfalia (for going slow)
2000 Passat 1.8T 5SPD(for going fast)
1981 Vespa P200E (for just going!)

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