My 84 was seeping coolant three years ago just before a long hot trip to
Wyoming. I didn't have time to take the engine apart so I put in a bottle of
sealer by a company called (I think) Irontite, might have been Ceramaseal.
Put another bottle in on the way out.  30,000 all-purpose, daily driver,
1200 pounds of 2 x 10 work van miles later it is still working fine.

The 86, on the other hand, has bulged out a small portion of the gasket and
is leaking enthusiastically from the passenger side head. It will have to
come off and be fixed the proper way.   Sigh.

Jake

On 8/8/06, gary hradek <hradek@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> Are you a rookie with some mechanic skills or a rookie
> who will be paying to have the work done?
> What is the color of the coolant?
> Are you able to do a compression check of the four
> cylinders?   This kind of question is like asking your
> dentist if you need to fill a tooth or crown a tooth.
>         gary
> Date:    Mon, 7 Aug 2006 15:00:07 -0700
> From:    Brian Workman <wkdrvanagon@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
> Subject: head leaking....options? 86 westy
>
> I know there is a ton on this in the archives...but I
> still can't make
> complete sense of my options (rookie).  Despite asking
> the PO
> specifically if there were head gasket leaks (he said
> no), I believe I have a
> weepy head gasket.  After sealing up oil leaks and
> doing a coolant flush
> after I bought the van, I am consistently loosing
> coolant, though I
> don't see any drips.  Upon going through the PO's old
> records I found a
> folded up (didn't noticed this before I bought it)
> reciept that stated
> heads were leaking.  The mechanic at the time
> recommended a sealer of
> some sort.  That was in January of 04...apprx 17000
> miles ago.  It is not
> overheating, or running poorly...just having to top
> off coolant every
> 3-400 miles.  What I am wondering is....what are my
> options.  Do I just
> wait until it starts leaking internally and take care
> of it then....or
> am I sitting on a time-bomb that I should address
> right away.   I
> noticed some posts about the subaru conditioner.
> Should I go that
> route or is it too late for such things.
>
>
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--
Jake
1984 Vanagon GL
1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
www.crescentbeachguitar.com