cool,
no problemo.
I like funin' !

----- Original Message -----
From: "John C..." <Trvlr2001@Comcast.net>
To: "'Scott Daniel - Turbovans'" <scottdaniel@turbovans.com>;
<vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, January 26, 2009 3:37 PM
Subject: RE: Head gasket leaking. Bummer.

> 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
>>>>>
>>
>