Your head gasket was a head gasket, his 'head gasket' is a rubber water seal
- two very different things.

On Tue, Aug 19, 2008 at 5:53 PM, Jack R. <jack007@comcast.net> wrote:

> Jake,
>
> Don't knock it until you try it... that "Head Gasket in a Can" got me
> 50,000
> miles on the BMW, and it wasn't leaking a drop when we sold it.  He is out
> of a job, and if a $30 investment gives him the same results as my BMW,
> then
> it's worth a shot.  I'd be sure to drive it for a couple of weeks before
> any
> long trip just to make sure things are tight.  Also, I'd be sure that it is
> running as cool as possible.  I wouldn't try going across the desert in the
> middle of August with the stuff, unless I had a back-up plan.
>
> But... I was pouring about a quart of anti-freeze in my BMW per week, until
> I put the "Head Gasket in a Can" in, and didn't add a drop for two years.
> The white smoke stopped right away.  For good measure, when I flushed the
> system two years later, I did the Bars leak treatment again.  I was
> skeptical myself, and maybe the BMW was a better candidate for this repair
> than a WBX... but I was sure pleased to drive a $1000 car for 3 years, 50k
> miles, on a $30 repair.
>
> Jack R.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Jake de Villiers
> Sent: Tuesday, August 19, 2008 8:33 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Engine repair or replacement?
>
> Guys, he's talking about driving his family across the Continent for God's
> sake!  Some 'Head Gasket in a Can' won't do it when that gasket starts
> chunking off halfway across Nevada and then he'll be in a position of no
> strength whatsoever.
>
> Use your imagination, huh?  :)
>
> On Tue, Aug 19, 2008 at 5:22 PM, Jack R. <jack007@comcast.net> wrote:
>
> > Robert,
> >
> > I have had some great success with the Bars Leak Head Gasket repair on a
> 91
> > BMW 325i.  The motor had 200k on it and was blowing white smoke like
> crazy
> > out the exhaust.  I only paid $1,000 for the car, and expected to put
> about
> > the same into the repair.  I thought, what the heck, I'll give the Bars
> > Leak
> > stuff a try.  It worked like a charm, and we put 50k on the motor, before
> > we
> > sold the car for $500.
> >
> > I will caution you, when using the Bars Leak, you MUST... did I say
> MUST...
> > get ALL of the coolant out of the system before adding the Bars Leak.
> > There are specific steps, and the Bars Leak Head Gasket solution does NOT
> > do
> > well with any type of coolant in the system.  It will gum up the works!
> >
> > As I am sure you have seen, the Vanagon is not an easy vehicle to flush
> and
> > fill, and you need to do this 3 times to get the full effect of the Bars
> > Leak.  FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS AT EVERY LAST DETAIL, and you will
> probably
> > be happy with the results.  Heck, $10 for the Bars Leak, and another $20
> or
> > so for the new (phosphate free) coolant, you may just have the leak stop
> > until you find a new job.
> >
> > Jack R.
> > 84 Westy Wolfie
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
> Of
> > Robert Stewart
> > Sent: Tuesday, August 19, 2008 7:10 PM
> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > Subject: Re: Engine repair or replacement?
> >
> > What do you think about the bars stop leak gasket fix?
> >
> > R
> >
> > On Aug 19, 2008, at 7:05 PM, Ben Cichowski wrote:
> >
> > > >>> I talked to this guy Ken Morgan who sells engines under the name
> > > jake4parts on ebay. He has 2.1 L engine for sale for $975. I know
> > > some people say that he shady, I am not sure. Spoke to him and he
> > > sounds like a nice guy who is knowledgeble.<<<
> > >
> > > Hey Robert,
> > >
> > > sorry to hear about he job...and the engine...total bummer, lots of
> > > us have been there.
> > >
> > > As for your statement above... they ALL sound nice and
> > > knowledgeable. I don't know this guy "jake4parts", but if more than
> > > a few people on this list have said he is a scam artist, I'd take
> > > their advice and avoid business with him. I may not know him, but I
> > > have certainly known scammers and, like I said, they are always the
> > > nicest guys on the phone; always have the answers and say the right
> > > thing. From your post, you sound like you are leaning in this
> > > direction, just don't want to see a guy make a bad situation worse.
> > > just my 2 cents.
> > >
> > > -Ben
> > >
> > > > Date: Tue, 19 Aug 2008 18:51:37 -0400
> > > > From: robertmstewart@MAC.COM
> > > > Subject: Engine repair or replacement?
> > > > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > > >
> > > > Hi Everyone,
> > > >
> > > > More on my story...
> > > >
> > > > My 88 automatic wolfsburg with 237,000 miles on it with a rebuilt
> > > > engine at 150,000 miles just had the head gaskets start leaking.
> > > Small
> > > > amounts of coolant are coming out.
> > > >
> > > > I was told it's missing .5 inches on each side of the head. I have
> > > not
> > > > verified it yet.
> > > >
> > > > Please note I just lost my job as dissolved the position and have a
> > > > couple months of severance an unemployment insurance coming in, so
> > > > cost is a big factor. I cant afford a lot but I want to do the right
> > > > thing. The van has been running fine for the most part and I only
> > > add
> > > > about a quarter of the coolant tank every 200 miles. So the leak is
> > > > not terrible
> > > >
> > > > I have been doing some research and here are what appear to be the
> > > > options:
> > > >
> > > > 1. Use something like Bars STOP Leak - Head Gasket Fix WORKS WITH
> > > ALL
> > > > TYPES OF ANTIFREEZE! (
> > > > DOES THIS EVEN WORK?
> > > > http://www.barsproducts.com/1111.htm
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > 2. Use something like Permatex on the edge (though I am told this
> > > wont
> > > > work it might be temporary fix)
> > > >
> > > > 3. Remove the engine and have the gaskets replaced $1200-$1500
> > > >
> > > > 4. http://www.alumiweld.com ? temporary fix.
> > > >
> > > > 5. Get a new engine
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > $975 & $190 shipping - Ken Morgan (Jake4parts on ebay)
> > > >
> > > > I talked to this guy Ken Morgan who sells engines under the name
> > > > jake4parts on ebay. He has 2.1 L engine for sale for $975. I know
> > > some
> > > > people say that he shady, I am not sure. Spoke to him and he sounds
> > > > like a nice guy who is knowledgeble.
> > > >
> > > >
> >
> >
>
> http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1986-1991-VW-Vanagon-Rebuilt-2-1L-Engine-Long
> >
> >
>
> -Block_W0QQitemZ320284970269QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item320284970269&_trkparms=3
> >
>
> 9%3A1%7C66%3A4%7C65%3A10%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14#ebayphotohosting<
>
> http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1986-1991-VW-Vanagon-Rebuilt-2-1L-Engine-Long
>
> -Block_W0QQitemZ320284970269QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item320284970269&_trkparms=3
> 9%3A1%7C66%3A4%7C65%3A10%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14#ebayphotohosting<http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1986-1991-VW-Vanagon-Rebuilt-2-1L-Engine-Long-Block_W0QQitemZ320284970269QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item320284970269&_trkparms=39%3A1%7C66%3A4%7C65%3A10%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14#ebayphotohosting>
> >
> > > >
> > > > "1986 - 1991 VW Vanagon 2.1L Engine Rebuilt (Long Block) Has all new
> > > > bearings, rings and valve job - This engine is completely resealed
> > > > with all new head gaskets and crank seals... Built in our shop,
> > > these
> > > > engines also comes with all installation gaskets to complete the
> > > > installations into your vanagon... Comes with flywheel or flex plate
> > > > - Specify whether you have an automatic or stickshift...
> > > >
> > > > This engine also fits 83-85 Vanagon waterboxers with a small
> > > > modification to the center intake manifold plenum (ask for product
> > > > circular)... Comes with a 12mo/12,000mile warranty, technical
> > > > bulitens for start-up and break-in as well as selection of motor
> > > oils
> > > > for long life and reliability...
> > > >
> > > > Shipping Flat Rate $190.00 to any major city trucking terminal in
> > > the
> > > > Continental USA - For Home delivery or Liftgate truck service add
> > > > $96.00"
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Need some help trying to figure out what I should I, finances are
> > > > tight. I want to move to California and drive my van there.
> > > >
> > > > Much appreciated all the ideas that you send my way.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Thanks,
> > > >
> > > > Robert
> > > >
> > > > NY
> > >
> > > Be the filmmaker you always wanted to be-learn how to burn a DVD
> > > with WindowsR. Make your smash hit
> >
>
>
>
> --
> Jake
> 1984 Vanagon GL
> 1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
> Crescent Beach, BC
> www.crescentbeachguitar.com
> http://subyjake.googlepages.com/mydixiedarlin%27
>
>

--
Jake
1984 Vanagon GL
1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
Crescent Beach, BC
www.crescentbeachguitar.com
http://subyjake.googlepages.com/mydixiedarlin%27