A head gasket is not responsible for oil getting into the coolant on the Wasserboxer. Do you have an automatic transmission? If so, I would consider the trans oil cooler 1st. Maybe the fluid is gunk-ed with some type of stop leak or mixed coolant types caused a gummed up mess. If it is really bad, the cooling system should be cleaned with one of the cooling system cleaners as oil will deteriate the hoses and make for lousy heat transfer.

Dennis

----- Original Message -----
From: Don Sturgill <dssturgill@VERIZON.NET>
Date: Thursday, October 7, 2004 3:09 pm
Subject: 84 oil gunk in coolant

> Decided to have local VW shop do the first radiator flush/fill and
> checkother items for me.  They say that a head gasket is leaking,
> but it is not
> showing because the fluid is very "gunk-ed" with oil.  Seems oil is
> gettinginto the water, but not water into oil.  Being a small
> shop, just one man
> wrenching, he can't schedule a fix anytime soon.  He says "just
> flush it and
> run it until the leak gets bigger".
>
>        I am concerned for the engine and system in general.
> Figure my
> options are to replace the engine (but would still need to clean
> the cooling
> system) or to clean the system, run it as long as I dare, and get
> the head
> gasket replaced elsewhere (near Sarasota, Florida) or hope that
> the local
> guy gets some time free.  I work six days and need transport
> available.  Can
> go a few days or a week, but not indefinitely without my ride.
>
>        He says he has heard that Shout laundry detergent cleans
> the gunk
> out well.  Has anyone ever heard of this idea?  He said that I
> could also
> just get the commercial engine cleaner from the local auto parts
> store and
> flush severely to try to save the engine from further damage.  He
> advisescontinuing to run it without antifreeze.
>
>        Seems my new Vanagon wasn't such a great buy, but I like
> it too much
> to let go.
>
> All observations and suggestions are appreciated.
>
>
>
> Don Sturgill
>
> Sarasota, Florida
>