Eric;
        Strictly on speculation I would say these small rubber O-rings do
not contain combustion gases, they only keep coolant out. The flat metal
rings between the heads and the cylinder sleeves do 100% of the
combustion chamber sealing.
        Let me know if you hear otherwise.

Drive Safely & Good Luck
Ken Lewis    <Kernersville,NC>
86 VW crewcab;60 356B Coupe
--------------------------------------------------

On Mon, 22 May 2000 22:17:33 EDT Eric Small <EricJSmall@AOL.COM> writes:
>Folks... I am in the middle of resealing the heads on my '86 GL.  This
>is my
>first attempt at this after paying for 3 previous jobs.  The only
>point of
>concern just now is the green cylinder O-ring.  I have not found any
>reference to these in the archives or in the various published
>procedures. Is
>there anything I should know about installing these?  My understanding
>is
>that they get pinched easily when refitting the heads.  Should I
>lubricate
>them?
>
>Also... one of the cylinder's O-ring channel is not quite as smooth
>and clean
>as the others.  The O-ring that was on that cylinder was pretty beat
>up too.
>It is my suspicion that this was the point of failure (combustion
>pressure in
>the coolant).
>Any thoughts or advise short of removing the engine?  I would like to
>get a
>few more miles out of this engine ...mostly for lack of funds just
>now.
>
>Please help... getting this right on my own is my only hope of keeping
>my van.
>
>Eric
>So.Portland, Maine
>sick '86 GL Weekender

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