also note tech term is: qweefing " its when the gasket qweefs out "
if you have bad heads thats not good also..

happy driving
Joe

-----Original Message-----
>From: Mike <mbucchino@CHARTER.NET>
>Sent: Nov 15, 2007 4:47 PM
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Re: Leaking Head perment fix ??
>
>  He says, "3 split head gaskets in 4 months"?  Sounds like a 'mechanic'
>that didn't know what he was doing.  ANY gasket will split (some call this
>'hydraulic'ing) by applying excessive wet (un-cured) sealant, then promptly
>torqueing the part down tight.  As fluid is non-compressible (silicone is
>fluid before it cures), this causes the too-large amount of sealant to need
>to find room to go somewhere, splitting the brand-new seal.  The mechanic
>needs to use the exact gasket or seal, using the exact type and amount of
>sealant (or lack thereof) as specified in the manual.  Varying from this
>exact procedure WILL give you problems, one way or the other........
>  Too many well-intentioned 'mechanics' have made this mistake; "I don't
>want this thing to leak again, if some is good, then more will be better".
>WRONG!  And thinking that you can out-engineer the factory by inventing your
>own gasket/ sealant/ torque values, is also just plain wrong!  His limited,
>'worked-great-for-me' repair is really pushing things, to recommend it to
>others.  And since when does a thicker gasket require a higher torque?  I
>don't know what this guy's smokin', but it must be good stuff.  Allowing the
>silicone sealant to cure first, before full and final torque is a good idea.
>  I recommend using a correct, quality gasket and sealant kit, applied and
>torqued 'exactly' as directed.  This will most likely result in a
>long-lasting, no-leak, permanent repair.  I'm NOT saying that factory did
>this perfectly right, but I AM saying that it's your only right way to do
>it.  It has lasted many hundreds of thousands of miles on many engines for
>many years, so something there must be right.............
>
>Mike B.
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "TC" <trclark@SHAW.CA>
>To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>Sent: Thursday, November 15, 2007 12:10 PM
>Subject: Leaking Head perment fix ??
>
>
>> http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=264403
>>
>> they suggested their 1/4" hi-temp silicone sheet & make some.(RED) 2-3
>> tries
>> to get pattern correct & cut easily with exacto knife-go slow. cut 1/4"
>> larger than o.s. of head & no holes covered.clean gasket mating surface &
>> run narrow bead of silicone around incenter-center gasket on head & place
>> board on with a weight(brick etc)until cured.check seal position & place
>> on
>> board seal down-trace o.s. of head with pen.place head,prod tubes inplace
>> &
>> instl head touching block. NOW check tracing--if still ok seal in correct
>> pos.torque heads with BEAM wrench-ADDING 5 lbs as gasket is 50thsnd
>> thicker.
>> myne been on 11yrs with a cyl seal replace 3 yrs ago/reused seals.2 other
>> wbxs had same & run 2+ years each.use your own judgement as tothis
>>
>> comments ???
>>

Kind Regards,
Joseph Fortino
fortino1@earthlink.net
yahoo mobile mail account: love2bike140@yahoo.com
IM: love2bike1414@yahoo.com

Have a Great Day!