Date:         Wed, 28 Jan 2004 15:35:16 -0500
Reply-To:     Mike Collum <collum@VERIZON.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Mike Collum <collum@VERIZON.NET>
Subject:      Re: 2nd opinion wtd: Compression vs Head gasket leak
Comments: To: Matt Sutton <msutts@EARTHLINK.NET>

There are two distinctly different sets of WBX "Head Gaskets".  You can
have coolant leaks at the big rubber ones that seal the heads at the
waterjackets and not have leaks at the gaskets that seal the combustion
chambers ... or vice versa ... or both.

Hose connections can leak making one think the big rubber head gaskets
are leaking when they're not.

My knee jerk reaction is to smile ... say thank you .... and go away.
Far away.

Mike
Houlton, Maine
'84 GL 7 pass
'85 GL Westy

----- Original Message -----
From: "Matt Sutton" <msutts@EARTHLINK.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, January 28, 2004 10:19 AM
Subject: 2nd opinion wtd: Compression vs Head gasket leak


> Good morning folks,
>     I'll try to keep a long story short here.
>     Brought my 88 GL to a local audi/vw place for some front end work,
> having heard good things about them from a sychro owner, and asked
them to
> do a compression/leakdown test as well for good measure.
>     Today, they come back with a pretty heavy laundry list, the most
> troubling being leaky head gaskets both sides. Now, I'd known of a
leak
> since the cold snap this winter and had been keeping an eye on it-
probably
> topping off the refill tank every ten days or so. No overheating,
boiling
> over, or coolant in the exhaust, I had yet to trace the coolant loss
to a
> specific source, though by smell I know the rear heater core is bad.
>     Now, by his estimation, there's no point in doing a compression
test on
> a 2.1 with leaky heads: if the heads leak coolant, your numbers will
be shot
> anyway.
>     True or false?
>     Not to make it more complicated but here's more info if you'd
like:
> -had a compression/ leakdown test back in August, reasonable values
with
> some weakness on Cyl. #1, probably rings.
> -approximately 140k on original engine, heads re-sealed at 80k by PO
> -the mechanic says, though a independent VW/Audi place, he "doesn't do
work
> on these engines". This in itself is confusing, compounded by his
offer to
> sell me a later model/lower mileage Vanagon. I truly wish he hadn't
said
> that, it makes me doubt everything he's said.
>     So, once again, I turn to the list.
>
> TIA
> -Matt Sutton
> 88 GL
> NYC