I know what's leaking on your van Robert, it was the BMW guy I was talking
to.  :)

On Tue, Aug 19, 2008 at 9:44 PM, Robert Stewart <robertmstewart@mac.com>wrote:

> 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
>>
>
>

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