When we bought our '86 Caravelle it had had almost exactly 100 kkm (let's say 63 kmi) and there was evidence of outside head-leaks. The "coolant" was the 100% natural tap water variety. There were 6 PO's and it was no beauty. Still isn't. Well, we got it cheap. Conclusion: With a lot of creative driving and artistic maintainance you can break one of those engines pretty quick. Perhaps the climate helps, too. A VW repair shop recommended a treatment with "Bar's leaks", some expensive crud you put in the coolant tank. That was no good, so I pulled the leaking head and did the gasket replacement thing. Interestingly enough, I didn't find much corrosion on the head, only that the rubber gasket was very badly out of shape. I suspect the head was mis-torqe-ed at some time or other. This was two years ago, and no leaks since. I'm waiting for the other (port side) head to start leaking, and I'd like to keep waiting.
************************************************************ '62 Johan Nyberg, Sodertalje Sweden '86 Caravelle C Necessary Pest '62 Kerstin Wife '85 Aasa Daughter '87 David Son '88 Markus Son '91 Jonas Son '93 Tora Daughter (Signature concept gratefully stolen from Tim Casey) ************************************************************
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