>IMO...they leak because VW built them to leak, in the course of cobbling-up
>an external water-cooling system for an air-cooled engine.  When they
>enclosed the cylinders in an aluminum fish-tank with a seal subject to
>differential expansion between iron and aluminum, they signed their (and
>our) own death warrants.

A well-put explanation.

>Suggestion for a cure (are you listening, Stan?) -- develop a ceramic
>coatindc��r the seal area on both head and water-jacket, so that there's
>nothing there to corrode.  It would have to extend far enough that its edge
>would be clear of any sealant applied at installation time, and to give a
>long path for any corrosion that does occur at its edges.  If the coating
>is impervious and isn't subject to edge-peel that should take care of it
>nicely -- I think.  Is there a corrosion engineer in the house?

How about chroming the surfaces?
--
Andrew Grebneff
Dunedin
New Zealand
<andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz>
Seashell, Macintosh, VW/Toyota van nut