Its the gasket on outside under the main head on both left and right
sides. I not a mechanic and am learning this still.

R

On Aug 20, 2008, at 12:01 AM, Jake de Villiers wrote:

> 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