As I can tell by experience, the original gaskets don't have excess goo
pressed out by the rubbers, the replaced ones almost alway do have quite a
bit of excess ran out by the rubbers pretty unevenly too.  If that would
identify a replacement, the next question is when it was changed.  Usually
it is changed about 100k or so.  Would be nice to contact the PO.
Zoltan

----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Sullivan" <sandwichhead@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, June 20, 2009 5:29 PM
Subject: Re: how can you tell head gaskets have been replaced?

> Looks cool from the quick look, but what is 'air-cared'? Michael.
> Michael in San Antonio
> 91GL AT 'Gringo'
> 73 Beetle
>
>
> On Sat, Jun 20, 2009 at 7:09 PM, Bart Prinsen <bprinsen@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Hello,
>>
>> I am selling my '88 Vanagon.  (
>> http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/cto/1227263088.html )
>>
>> Unfortunately I don't know the history of the van prior to the person
>> whom
>> I
>> bought it from who owned if just for a couple weeks to import it into
>> Canada.
>>
>> It has 170,000 miles on it and I am not sure if the heads have been
>> redone.
>> It runs great and there is no evidence of any problems with the heads.
>>
>> I don't know a lot about Vanagons. A couple people who came to look at it
>> though that aftermarket gaskets could be identified. One guy though
>> aftermarket gaskets are orange and another guy thought they had some logo
>> on
>> in that could identify it as aftermarket.
>>
>> Can anyone confirm this?
>>
>> Any help would be appreciated.
>>
>> Bart.
>>