Date:         Sat, 6 Nov 1999 18:46:44 -0800
Reply-To:     Art Beutler <abeutler@GETNET.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Art Beutler <abeutler@GETNET.COM>
Subject:      Wasser Leaking/Gushing
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

My 1986 Wolfburg Weekender has suddenly made the transition from no
coolant loss from the head gaskets to spouting a gusher of coolant.
Last time I dove the Vanagon before this occurred was yesterday; today I
noticed after I ran it just long enough to move it from one parking
space to an adjacent one a significant wet spot was forming on the
driveway.  This I quickly traced to a leak at the head gasket on the
right side of the engine; specifically it is at the bottom of the head
right in between the two sets of pushrods.

I had thought that these things tend to develop gradually starting with
a few drops per day; this is a few drops per minute!  The gasket
material feels reasonably flexible, the leak is on the head side of the
gasket, and the surrounding area is clean.  As usual, I have several
qustions for the wisdom of the list to ponder:

1)      Is my situation unusual (going from no leak to a high rate leak)?
2)      If the answer to (1) is yes, are there other likely causes than
corrosion?
3)      What is my range of options?

                Thanks,

                Art Beutler