Date:         Tue, 7 Dec 1999 12:35:06 -0800
Reply-To:     Joseph_P._McNiff@FFIC.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Joseph McNiff <Joseph_P._McNiff@FFIC.COM>
Subject:      New heads and head gasket
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

At 116,000 miles I just had my head gasket blow.
Heads were cracked too. My mechanic recommended
to replace the gasket and put new heads on. So thats
what I went with. Ended up replacing all the hoses and
water pump too. With the tune up and all the goodies it
came to $2500. When I went to pick it up I asked him what
kind of coolant he put in and he said the regular green stuff.
He knew where I was going so he started telling me that, in
his opinion the blue stuff  was no different then the green stuff
except that  the cost for the blue stuff was more. He turned to
his partner and said "tell him what the difference is" His partner
said it's not going to make a difference at all. He said the head
gaskets was going to corrode and need to be changed in another
100,000 miles whether I used the green stuff or the blue stuff.
Well after reading so much on this list about how important the
proper coolant is I was very surprised at my mechanics view.
This guy is supposed to be the best in my area. Which is Sonoma co. CA.
Joel and Ron's Harmony Shop.
Anybody care to share their thoughts

joseph
86 westy