You don't need to remove the heads to change the pushrod tube seals on the vanagon engine.  The
tubes can be removed through the heads.
If you're in an area with cold winters, often the heads will leak when the metal contracts due to
the cold.  My old engine did that for two years - didn't leak a drop in the warmer months and always
ran strong.  You could just keep adding coolant and if it ever starts leaking inward then do the
heads.
-Hans

----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Knight" <vwdormer@HOTMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, January 03, 2005 12:42 PM
Subject: Leaking Woes

> Okay so I have made it through replacing the Speedo Cable, getting a newer
> dash cluster in, new slave cylinder, new rear cylinders, etc.
>
> This weekend I was readjusting the brakes per some info from the list and
> there are doing great. But while I was under the engine I noticed two small
> puddles of coolant. Both were located just below the point where the pushrod
> tubes contact the engine. If the heads were leaking this would seem like the
> obvious place the coolant would drip from. The pushrod tube cover plates are
> in tact. I have been thinking of pulling the heads anyway to fix the leaky
> pushrod tube seals(Oil Leaky). But is it normal for the heads to both leak
> at the same time? Ilooked all over the engine from above and what I could
> see from below. I can't seem to find where the coolant is coming from.
>
> Any suggestions? I really would like to put off pulling the heads and such
> for a while. Currently I am not over heating and the oil usage is minimal as
> well as loss of coolant.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Michael Knight
> '77 Westy Deluxe, "el Verde"
> '85 Vanagon GL, nameless
>