Date:         Wed, 17 Nov 1999 05:22:49 -0800
Reply-To:     "T.P. Stephens" <doktortim@ROCKISLAND.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "T.P. Stephens" <doktortim@ROCKISLAND.COM>
Subject:      Re: DM: Re: VW coolant
In-Reply-To:  <007501bf30c4$965158a0$8f2a8ad1@win95>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

At 01:25 AM 11/17/1999 -0500, you wrote:
>Here's a 'scientific' test for you to try: Take 3 new waterboxers, one with
>green ethylene, one with green propylene, and one with the $$$ 'special'
>dealer coolant. Drive each 100K miles, under identical conditions. At this
>point you will discover that the waterboxer head gasket problem is caused
>not by the type of coolant, but by a very poor and inferior design. They all
>will leak at approximately the same time. (Subarus don't leak, no matter the
>coolant type, and they are aluminum block / aluminum head design, albeit
>with a proper head gasket) It's time to call a spade a spade, the waterboxer
>is surely no great engineering feat in the cooling department. And their
>metals are not superior in any way, sorry! It's about time this myth is put
>to rest that the coolant is the cause of the head gasket woes in the
>waterboxer engine.

No real data here that I can see. Just speculation and repeat of misnomers
already addressed. Comparing a 1.5 gallon front engine/radiator system with
the Wasserboxer 4 gallon system with the 15 foot differential from motor to
radiator is an apples and oranges thing, two very different suits. No new
knowledge provided.

****************************************************************************


>The fact remains that the aluminum and iron manufactured in Germany is no
>more generic than their specifications. I certainly was not talking about
>all the cars on the road. Mostly I was refering to the most sensitive
>automotive cooling system I am aware of, the Wasserboxer. The fact is that
>to my knowledge none of the German manufactures have yet tested and
>approved other than that which has been stated for ANY OF THEIR MOTORS. It
>don't include the polypropalene, which by the way when in used condition is
>filthy stuff. I sure wouldn't pour it on my veggies. If people would handle
>the ethelene glycol waste responsibly, it would be a lot greener than
>dumping poly 'cause it's base component is biodegradable. The alchemicals
>from years of heat cycling in contact with various metals, plastics,
>rubber, oil, sealants, ect. are not very green at all. Used E-glycol can be
>burned in a small furnace without special handling, according to the EPA,
>the most repressive of Govt. agencies in the world, barring a few pissant
>tyrants.
>
>You may experiment all you wish. I will follow instructions and enhance
>methode with proven techniques. If you wish to prove your practice is
>superior or equal to another, you must provide your data, obtained via
>scientific method. You want mine??? I refer you to the manufacturers.

Doktor Tim
Maintenance Repair and Restoration of European Vehicles
San Juan Island, WA