If you can keep coolant in the thing you can keep it on the road, provided you aren't getting combustion gases in the waterjacket (internal head gasket leaks). Have your cooling system tested for hydrocarbons (exhaust gas sniffer in the expansion tank, or chemical test). I STRONGLY advise against the use of Bars Leaks, or any other glop which might tend to accumulate in radiator and heater core passages. These quick-fixes are for emergencies - don't use them for maintenance. They may cost you a radiator on top of the cylinder head work that has to be done anyway. Start preparing for the reseal. In pricey Marin County, CA the reseal costs around $1500, including rebuilding both heads. With new heads the job goes to around $2000. Or prepare for adventure - the job is definitely DYI compatible with a reasonable set of tools, a good manual (Bentley, Haynes) and THIS LIST! Coby Valley Wagonworks "Intimately acquainted with VW Vans since 1959" Volkswagen Bus, Vanagon, Westfalia and Eurovan Repair and Service Specialists 1535 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., San Anselmo, CA 94933 Voice:(415) 457-5628 Fax: (415) 457-0967 http://wagonworks.com mailto:contact@wagonworks.com
> -----Original Message----- > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf > Of James Ruch > Sent: Wednesday, September 08, 1999 12:37 PM > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM > Subject: head gaskets > > > Hi All > > I had hoped that maybe I was immune... but I started dripping coolant last > week :-( While I try to decide if the gasket job is over my head (no pun > intended) or not, can anyone tell me if I might get a few more > miles out of > my '85 transporter before jumping into this job (or hiring it out)? I'm > probably getting about 20 drips per minute (dpm ?). I'm not very hopeful > here. > > J.Peter > '85 Transporter: "Snugvagon" |
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Vanagon mail messages have been archived.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.