I've never owned a manual - I bought my van last september - and I'm
astonished at this.... Is there any chance that simply forgetting/neglecting
to do this played a contributing role in all the failed headgaskets out
there - could it be as much of a contributer as using the wrong cooling
fluid, esp when using the wrong cooling fluid? Note that in Tim Hannink
reply (below) it says Hard or Extended - so extended would mean whether hard
or not... while hard could be short or extended... And I've just been
jumping out as soon as I stop sometimes forgeting to put my automatic in
park....

> > Do you drive 70+ on the
> > >highway with the AC on then pull into a rest area and instantly turn
>off
> > >the engine?
> > >

>Heat soak. Your heads are very very hot but the engine isn't overheating as
>you are going down the highway and getting a nice airflow through your
>radiator and the RPMs are high enough that you have a good coolant flow
>volume. But, now you instantly shut it all down - but the heads are still
>very hot - now the coolant that is no longer flowing has to absorb all the
>heat - and can start boiling . . . . .

And Tim Hannink sent this:
From page 34 of the 1987 Vanagon/Transporter Volkswagen Owner's Manual

STOPPING ENGINE

"Do not stop the engine immediately after hard or extended driving. Keep
engine running at increased idle for about two minutes to prevent excessive
heat build-up."

________________________________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com