It is the stainless steel gaskets (one for each cylinder) that leaks.
The rubber seal around the heads are for keeping coolant from leaking
out and dripping on the ground.

If combustion gas leaks into the cooling system the cylinder head has
warped. The heads (at least one of the two) need to be replaced. This is
usually a result of engine over heating.

David

--- Stephen DeMocko <SDeMocko@FDSMFG.COM> wrote:

> Ed,
> I think Ken is right about the combustion gasses leaking into the
> cooling.  That is what mine was doing.  How does the list feel about
> retorqing the heads if the outer coolant seal is not leaking?  I know
> there is a chance of displacing the sealant under the head fasteners,
> but it would be easier than pulling the heads all the way off to replace
> the copper ring.
> Stephen DeMocko
> ('85 Westy Luci)
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
> Of Kenneth Lewis
> Sent: Monday, September 17, 2007 8:54 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Cooling questions still
>
> Ed,
> The internal head gasket may be leaking combustion gasses into the
> cooling
> system. Do you notice a steady stream of bubbles into the reservoir(the
> tank
> with the blue pressure cap)? The water pump could be shot. The
> thermostat
> stuck, radiator clogged(does it get hot?). Does the radiator fan work on
> all
> speeds?
>
> Ken Lewis
> http://neksiwel.20m.com/
>

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