Right You Are !!!
I was jus funin !
I'm a Firm Believer in Preventative Maintenance !!!
As with health Early Diagnosis is the Key !!!
JC..

-----Original Message-----
From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans [mailto:scottdaniel@turbovans.com]
Sent: Monday, January 26, 2009 4:19 PM
To: Trvlr2001@Comcast.net; vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Head gasket leaking. Bummer.

right, wait until it breaks on you in a really inconvenient place.

I'm talking about when there is a known problem..........he's loosing
coolant badly.
it's plain obvious.................., find the biggest offending part/leak,
and deal with it.
Then see how the rest of the system acts.
I guess that wasn't apparent to you.

and there is a time when it's best to leave some things alone for sure.

----- Original Message -----
From: "John C..." <Trvlr2001@Comcast.net>
To: "'Scott Daniel - Turbovans'" <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>;
<vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, January 26, 2009 2:37 PM
Subject: RE: Head gasket leaking. Bummer.

> >I'd say, first step is ...........remove the Offending Part.
>>( also falls under 'Fix what you know is broken. )
>
>
> My mantra ;
> don't fix it if it ain't broke
> don't fix it if it ain't broke
> don't fix it if it ain't broke
> :o)
> JC...
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Scott Daniel - Turbovans
> Sent: Monday, January 26, 2009 3:25 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Head gasket leaking. Bummer.
>
> that coolant distributor.......
> they like to crumble where a hose goes on.
> I don't see too many of them failing.........but they sure do.
>
> there are 3 or 4 version of that part.
> the 'real way' to get the right part is to get the part number off it.
> I recommend Van Cafe , and I think their site says this same thing ....
> only way to be sure is by part # on the old part.
>
> I wouldn't dream of going on a major trip with out a fairly new on
> installed..
> or at least a good used back-up on on baord.
> it would be a very hard part to subsitue for.......like with hardware
> store
> parts.
>
> the hoses ...........sure they can fail.......though it's rare.
> you don't say which trans you have.....
> but on the auto trans 86 and above 2WD vanagons ...........the hose that
> goes over the top of the torque converter/bell housing area......
> that gets blasted with heat and AFF oily fumes..........eats it right out
> after a long time - gets mushy and soft.
>
> on my personal van I used some syncro pipes that also go over the bell
> housing in a syncro........part of one of those pipes to replace most of
> that rubber hose going over the torque converter, with steel pipe from a
> syncro.  it's the right size and shape metal pipe too.
> heat shield works too of course.
> otherwise.............some of the best coolant hoses in car-dom !  - on
> vanagons.
>
> the plastic thermostat housings like to melt or turn to junk too., on the
> 2.1.
> A syncro t-stat housing is made of aluminum can be installed instead
> though.
>
> I'd say, first step is ...........remove the Offending Part.
> ( also falls under 'Fix what you know is broken. )
>
> Scott
> www.turbovans.com
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Mark A Kippert" <vanagon@KIPPERT.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Monday, January 26, 2009 1:16 PM
> Subject: Re: Head gasket leaking. Bummer.
>
>
>> After no leaks for about 2 days the leak is back and then some.
>>
>> Sunday, a few hours after a trip to the hardware store (20-25 mile
>> round trip), I went out to go somewhere else. I then noticed a wet
>> spot about 18" in diameter (previously about a 5" spot). I didn't have
>> time to crawl under and look so I drove my truck. Last night I pulled
>> the van a few feet forward in the drive. This morning I see a new spot
>> about 12" round.
>>
>> This time I crawled under. I didn't notice any coolant on the head but
>> got some on my finger if I rubbed it (passenger's side, rear cyl). It
>> was then that I realized the wet spot was more than a foot forward of
>> the head. So I start looking around and see a slow drip coming from
>> that distribution junction behind the firewall, near the starter.
>>
>> I don't know if the junction is bad or if I have a bad hose. Until I
>> find the time I'm just going to have to stop driving it, cause I sure
>> don't want a hose to burst, or the junction to fail and suffer a mass
>> loss of coolant.
>>
>> Now it has me wondering if the head is actually leaking, or if the
>> coolant on the underside of the engine just made it's way from that
>> junction. However if it were only coming from the junction, you'd
>> think it would be on the forward cylinder as well.
>>
>> So I suspect I now have two leaks. Argh.
>>
>> Mark K
>> 1986 GL 2WD
>>
>>
>>
>> On Jan 25, 2009, at 1:19 PM, Mark A Kippert wrote:
>>
>>> OK, here's the weird thing. After receiving the Bars suggestion I went
>>> out and bought some. This was Friday I believe. I've been waiting for
>>> it to leak out enough to pour in the Bars. The leak appears to have
>>> stopped!?!? No telltale drips on the underside of the head/engine. No
>>> puddle or wet spot on the ground. Nothing. Odd.
>>>
>>> Mark K
>>> 1986 GL 2WD
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Jan 25, 2009, at 9:25 AM, dylan friedman wrote:
>>>
>>>> Dave and many others have had similar experience with the stop leak
>>>> products.
>>>> A weep or occasional drip will dry up and the van can be run for
>>>> more miles.
>>>> If a pool or puddle collects on the ground after driving, do
>>>> yourself a favor and have the heads resealed.
>>>>
>>>> dylan
>>>>
>