Date:         Thu, 7 Oct 2004 15:09:58 -0400
Reply-To:     Don Sturgill <dssturgill@VERIZON.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Don Sturgill <dssturgill@VERIZON.NET>
Subject:      84 oil gunk in coolant
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Decided to have local VW shop do the first radiator flush/fill and check
other items for me.  They say that a head gasket is leaking, but it is not
showing because the fluid is very "gunked" with oil.  Seems oil is getting
into the water, but not water into oil.  Being a small shop, just one man
wrenching, he can't schedule a fix anytime soon.  He says "just flush it and
run it until the leak gets bigger".

        I am concerned for the engine and system in general.  Figure my
options are to replace the engine (but would still need to clean the cooling
system) or to clean the system, run it as long as I dare, and get the head
gasket replaced elsewhere (near Sarasota, Florida) or hope that the local
guy gets some time free.  I work six days and need transport available.  Can
go a few days or a week, but not indefinitely without my ride.

        He says he has heard that Shout laundry detergent cleans the gunk
out well.  Has anyone ever heard of this idea?  He said that I could also
just get the commercial engine cleaner from the local auto parts store and
flush severely to try to save the engine from further damage.  He advises
continuing to run it without antifreeze.

        Seems my new Vanagon wasn't such a great buy, but I like it too much
to let go.

All observations and suggestions are appreciated.



Don Sturgill

Sarasota, Florida