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Date:         Sun, 25 Jan 2004 12:48:36 -0800
Reply-To:     gary hradek <hradek@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         gary hradek <hradek@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Coolant leak! Decision time
Comments: cc: jspeer@POBOX.COM
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Jeremy, Leaks will happen sooner or later. Likely it has been leaking for some time and got big enough to see. First sign of leaks happens when it is cold and you have been driving and you shut it off. The rubber gasket has seperated from the head just the smallest amount. Fix it or get it fix. If you run it too long this way you will do damage to the head. The head surface will become more and more pitted. May want to do the waterpump and a few of the harder to reach hoses when you do the job. Worse job will be the exhaust bolts. Read up before you do the job. E-mail me if you want the reading material. gary Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2004 09:42:29 -0600 From: Jeremy Speer <jspeer@POBOX.COM> Subject: Coolant leak! Decision time....

Volks,

I don't drive my van much once the salt starts being spread around, but i do start it and fully warm (45 minutes +) it every weekend. Yeah, its been cold... and yes, the van sits outside. Dunno if that has contributed to the most recent problem.

Friday i noticed a dark spot under the driver's side head. I also noticed the snow and ice had been melted away under that spot. This morning i pulled off the lid, the driver's side of the engine was puddled with coolant.

I toweled off the coolant and started the engine. Started as you might expect a van to start on a 1 degree F morning... sluggishly, but it fired right up and kept running. The exhaust does not have any smell of coolant. The engine idled fine.

However, there is clearly seepage at the head gasket. Although no coolant seeped from the top of the head gasket (at least not while idling with me watching), there was a very slow drip from the tin under the driver's side of the engine. Total volume lost so far... maybe half a cup.

So......... what should i do? Let's assume the seal at the cylinders is still good and the gasket is failing only on the outside edge.... it still means the head has to come off... and you don't want to do just one side, right? I know the engine has low, but even, compression, so is this the big sign that now would be a good time for a rebuild?

My wife and i were hoping to take the summer off, finally, and drive to Alaska... so what do all y'all think: Just have the heads pulled and the gaskets addressed? or do i go for a local rebuild, or, call Boston Bob and get that big valve i've been lusting after for two years now?

Money's always an issue, but i've been saving with an eye to this kind of eventuality, so please be honest with suggestions... what you think would be the best long-term option.

Many Thanks,

-jspeer, '89 Westy GL, "Mystery Machine"

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