Date:         Tue, 16 Aug 2005 08:47:44 -0400
Reply-To:     Wil Haslup <wil@CHARMFX.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Wil Haslup <wil@CHARMFX.COM>
Subject:      so what's the skinny on water cooled Vanagons?
Content-type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

So I'm seriously considering letting go of my '80 air cooled Vanagon in
favor of a '91 a friend has.

I've spent a lot of time figuring out the insides of the air cooled and
haven't seen much of the water cooled so I'm at the base of the learning
curve (except for being mechanically savvy and dealing with the '80).

My sense is that there are a few problematic areas related to the
cooling systems on these...hence the Nickname... "WasserLeaker".

My friend has mentioned he used Bars Leaks to keep an '84 running for
several years.  The '91 he has and wants to sell me threw a belt some
time ago prompting a complete overheat with water everywhere.  Instead
of having the heads done he put $5k into a factory new engine and it has
75k on it now.

At this point I know to keep an eye open for leaks and antifreeze smell.
  Any other significant areas of concern specifically on a '91?

Thanks...



--

Wil


-- http://www.charmfx.com/

"It's the same things your whole life. "Clean up your room!", "Stand up
straight!", "Pick up your feet!", "Take it like a man!", "Be nice to
your sister!", "Don't mix beer and wine, ever!". Oh yeah, "Don't drive
on the railroad track!"
- Phil from "Groundhog Day" (1993)