Ruby (89 syncro Westie) had her cooling system revamped because of an unusual white deposit on the thermostat and in insulatiing quantities in the microcore radiator. Your radiator is a highly efficient cross flow double stack with really tiny aluminum channels and fins. Radiator deposits of any sort severely restrict heat transfer. Now the gummygooey stuff that is often found can be treated by a reputable radiator shop but the white chalky deposit found in Ruby's radiator doesn't respond to even the best chemical assailants. At 78K the BDD put a generous helping of Alumaseal in to stop the head gasket seeps. The opinion of the radiator repair technician was that alumaseal is deadly for micro core radiators and starts an irrecoverable process that will cost you a $425 dollar part at the very least. (radiator list price from BDD). I am currently negotiating with the BDD to reimburse me for not only those expenses but to replace the heater cores. I'll keep you posted. IMNSHO Alumaseal is not the answer to the head/gasket design defect. -- -- ___ / __ __/ ____/ Al Knoll HP Performance Technology / / / / / Center Roseville, CA, USA 95747 / _____/ / / 916.785.9453 (Telnet 785-9453) / / / / email: alf@hpptc38.rose.hp.com / __/ __/ ______/ ___________________________________/
|
Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of
Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection
will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!
Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com
The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.
Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.