If you flush and refill every two years and use a sealant, you should be able to see more miles out of the wbxer.
I have been doing it for over five years now and have not even had a weep, heater output is excellent and flow of cooling system is very good.
I judge flow by how easily the system will bleed.
A lubricated water pump really helps.

I agree with Ken and have had the same experiences.

There is a Samba thread going on currently with horror stories about Bar's Leak.
Don't believe the hype.
Most of the people with catastrophic problems had major gasket leaks before using a sealant and all had original heater cores and radiators that they had never flushed since owning the van.

dylan

________________________________
From: Ken Wilford <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Sent: Wednesday, April 15, 2009 8:46:07 AM
Subject: Re: Head Leak

Aluma seal is a good product that you can get at napa.� Or you can just
use the plain old bars leak.� My 90 Vanagon's PO used it every year from
when he first bought it until he sold it to me.� Never replaced heads or
gaskets in 300k miles.� Still running OE radiator and front heater core
so if you are worried about those getting plugged up I just want to say
I have never seen or experienced this.� You want something that will
also lubricate your water pump and renew your coolant additives besides
sealing the seep.� Bar's Leak will do this I know.

Ken Wilford
John 3:16
www.vanagain.com

John Rodgers wrote:
> I found that orange stuff along a seam and some sheetmetal on my engine
> today. No question but what it is comeing frm a head. It's aint much,
> but it's there.
>
> What's the success rate with plugging this kind of� leak with some kind
> of stop-leak additive to the coolant
>
> What would the list suggest as a good head-leak-stopper-upper?
>
> Regards,
>
> John Rodgers
> 88 GL Driver
>