Date:         Wed, 28 Oct 1998 16:59:02 -0800
Reply-To:     Edwin O'Shea <EdOshea@WEBTV.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Edwin O'Shea <EdOshea@WEBTV.NET>
Subject:      Pealing Rubber Gasket
Comments: To: Vanagon@VANAGON.COM
Content-Type: Text/Plain; Charset=US-ASCII

A while back my Westy had the audacity to blow the top off the plastic
"T" junction of the cooling system; by the time I got stopped the red
warning light was blinking and the needle was above normal but had not
pegged at the top.  The engine was still able to turn over but of course
there was coolant all over the engine compartment and tailgate.

Later when I pulled the motor shields there was what looked like a piece
of a rubber gasket where head meets the cylinder that was pulled out a
bit.  Since it seems there was enough pressure in the coolant system to
blow the top off that junction do I just automatically assume the heads
need to be done; or could I try some other remidies first.  Maybe
retorquing the heads and putting in some Moroso Ceramic Block sealer
someone on the list mentioned before, and do these products cause harm
to other parts.

Lastly what should I check out on the van to see if I caused any other
damage to the engine when it overheated?  I would hate to go to the
trouble of doing the heads only to find out that the whole motor was
trashed when it overheated.  At least it did not seize up, but I'd like
to know if there is other damage.  Thank you all for your help.

Ed
87 Westy 120,000 mi.