A cylinder leakage test is much more informational.  You pump up the
cylinder and see where the pressure escapes (and how much).

Karl Wolz

----- Original Message -----
From: "Mark Dorm" <mark_hb@HOTMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, July 05, 2001 3:11 PM
Subject: Re: 4th heater core burst in 1 year!

> A compression check determines if there is a head gasket leak? is that
> correct?
>
>
> >From: Jere Hawn <jbrschawn@EARTHLINK.NET>
> >Reply-To: Jere Hawn <jbrschawn@EARTHLINK.NET>
> >To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> >Subject: Re: 4th heater core burst in 1 year!
> >Date: Thu, 28 Jun 2001 23:34:08 -0700
> >
> >Paul,
> >
> >IMHO you have a head gasket leak or an oil cooler leaking into the
coolant.
> >Why do I say that?
> >
> >1. it appears that your coolant is contaminated and the contaminate is
> >eating the seals, petroleum products will eat the rubber.
> >
> >2. If your system was over pressurized it would blow out the cap (should
be
> >checked)... good chance this over-pressurization comes from something
that
> >can produce a higher pressure that is in the system.... One of the things
> >that come in contact with the coolant system is combustion pressure (head
> >gasket leak).
> >
> >Things I would check.
> >1.  Look in coolant reservoir to see if there is a sheen on the surface
of
> >the coolant (you may have to take some out and put it in a clean bowl to
> >see
> >the sheen); and I would check the cap to make sure it releases at
proscribe
> >psig.
> >
> >2. if there is a sheen do compression check and check oil cooler.
> >
> >Thanks,
> >
> >Jere
> >90 GL
> >88 GL
> >
> >
> >
> >  -----Original Message-----
> >From:   Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]  On
Behalf
> >Of
> >Paul Cavanaugh
> >Sent:   Thursday, June 28, 2001 4:41 PM
> >To:     vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> >Subject:        4th heater core burst in 1 year!
> >
> >My 1990 (180k miles) GL automatic just had it's 4th rear heater core
> >burst in 12 months!
> >
> >It also has burst two (metal) differential coolers, flooding coolant
> >into and ruining my transmission.
> >
> >Any ideas what could be happening?
> >
> >My friends are urging my to give up the car (and I am tired of
> >pulling up the flooded carpet)!
> >
> >Thanks!
> >Paul
>
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