Date:         Sat, 13 Nov 2004 22:01:59 -0600
Reply-To:     Jim Felder <felder@KNOLOGY.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jim Felder <felder@KNOLOGY.NET>
Subject:      Re: Repeat post: (was: # head gasket failure modes and emergency
              temporary fixes)
In-Reply-To:  <20041114011436.96270.qmail@web50107.mail.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed

I don't think the rubber gaskets are actually external... since they
are clamped between the cylinder and head, they seem internal to me. I
don't think anything outside the clamped gasket could retain coolant
under heat and pressure like the captive gasket could, therefore I
doubt that anything added around the gasket could be effective. Just my
opinion.


The exterior of the engine presents a less-than-ideal surface to do
what you propose in the way of an emergency fix, but I suppose it's
possible. However, I've never heard of the sudden catastrophic failure
of these gaskets. They seem to give plenty of warning, during which
time the owner has ample opportunity to fix the problem without
resorting to an external bandaid.

Jim

On Nov 13, 2004, at 7:14 PM, TinkerMan wrote:

> Hi Volks,
>
> I'm repeating the post due to almost lack of response
> to this most common motor failure cause: even if you
> don't approve of my unorthodox temporary repair method
> :-), your feedback regarding head gasket failure modes
> (i.e. is it the external rubber gasket that fails the
> most) would be very much appreceated, to further
> investigate this idea.
> TIA for any inputs!
>
> cheers,
> T-man
>
> --- TinkerMan <tinkerman007@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>> Date: Mon, 8 Nov 2004 06:25:37 -0800 (PST)
>> From: TinkerMan <tinkerman007@yahoo.com>
>> Subject: # head gasket failure modes and emergency
>> temporary fixes
>> To: Vanagon mailing list <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>>
>> Hello Volks!
>>
>> Blown head gaskets are probably the #1 wasserboxer
>> killers in our vans.
>>
>> What interests me is which gaskets blow the most.
>> I know about 4 gaskets:
>> 1. Cylinder sleeve bottom seal to the crankcase
>> (O-ring?) - keeps combustion gases out of crankcase.
>> 2. Green gasket on top of the cylinder - keeps
>> combustion gases out of water jacket.
>> 3. Metal gasket on top of the cylinder - also keeps
>> combustion gases out of water jacket.
>> 4. Big external rubber gasket that seals head to
>> crankcase - keeps water in water jacket from leeking
>> out.
>>
>> My guess is that the external rubber seal fails the
>> most, since it's plain rubber and has the most area
>> to
>> seal and thus more chance for failure.
>>
>> Can anyone verify my guess or contradict it?
>>
>> The reason I'm asking this is that, in case the
>> gasket
>> blows, a temporary fix might let you get by until
>> the
>> end of your vacation or even until the next engine
>> rebuild.
>> The engine might be in perfect condition (and I've
>> heard lots of good comments about these motors
>> except
>> for the head gasket problems, e.g. no timimg belt or
>> valve adjustments thanks to hydraulic valve lifters,
>> etc.), and it's a pitty a simple rubber gasket that
>> blows often forces an engine rebuild (at least the
>> head gaskets) which means lots of wasted $$$$$...
>>
>> Thus, I suggest a quick and dirty solution: Hi-temp
>> silicon sealer applied around the external head
>> sealing gasket and nearby mating head and crankcase
>> surfaces, possibly adding some kind of
>> re-enforcement
>> belt to keep it from being blown out by the coolant
>> pressure. Who cares if it's ugly as long as it
>> works?...:-)
>> When real engine rebuild time comes by (and I have a
>> feeling that a properly maintained wasserboxer can
>> even go as high as 200-300k Km), the sealant will
>> have
>> to be scraped off of course, but it's won't be on
>> the
>> sealing surfaces anyway so wouldn't bother too much.
>> Maybe preemptively adding this "added protection" in
>> advance might even give a longer engine life until
>> first external leak.
>>
>> Of course, it all depends on the assumption that the
>> external gasket leaks first.
>> Any favorable opinions for this idea?
>>
>>
>> =====
>> Cheers, T-man.
>>
>>
>>
>> __________________________________
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>>
>>
>
>
> =====
> Cheers, T-man.
>
>
>
> __________________________________
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