Larry,

Two years ago my heads started weeping  on my 85 GL when it got cold
out---

I dropped a small bottle of Bars leak into the expansion tank, and they
haven't dripped since---

Now I am not saying this "miracle in a bottle" is the ultimate solution,
nor am I saying this is the best way to do the job---but the van in
question was had for nothing----and is my work vehicle--my beater, so no
big loss at the time---
And it is still working---30,000 miles down the road----

I can't speak for the aluminum seal--but if it works, and you really
don't care about the van--what the hell--what do you have to lose?

Later,

Terry

E-mail message

Larry,

I replaced the ones on my 84 last fall. The rubber seals were actually
cut/torn or whatever in several spotts. That's what was causing what you
could see. What was worse was what was out of sight! The metal sealing
rings at the top of the sleeves were letting coolant into the head when
cold and air into the coolant when hot. I also used alum-a-seal and it
stopped the visual leaks but I had both and it would not stop inner seal
leaks. Just keep a sharp eye out for signs of the inner seals leaking,
air in coolant, pinging/pounding noise when started cold and unexplained
coolant loss.
Happy motoring
Joe R.

----- Original Message -----

I am trying to bring an old vanagon back to life.....
I bought vanagon approx. 3 yrs. ago (w/ blown engine), put junkyard
engine in which immed. leaked. Torn heads off, showed them to local
"expert VW mechanic" who said 'they're OK just replace gasket' and so I
listened to him. Bought a Subaru car as a replacement engine for the
future...that project is on hold because I like my 1.9l VW Engine
so.....
But the new gasket leaked. I have put alum. seal $3 into this engine and
my leaks are gone....and its approx. 10K miles later. What does the
group think about a $3 fix to the pitted heads of an old vanagon engine.
It works for me now.....so tell me why this does always work? Also I am
using the alum. seal that is pure alum. so I hoped it would simply fill
in the pits on my alum. head..so far so good.
Just want feedback of group on this if I can...
Larry
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