Forgot to mention - this 88GL has a manual tranny.

Thanks for the additional tips.

John

John Rodgers
Clayartist and Moldmaker
88'GL VW Bus Driver
Chelsea, AL
Http://www.moldhaus.com

On 5/19/2011 4:54 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans wrote:
> all right John..
> you are using Dexcool.
> I use it, good stuff.
>
> I suggest..if you can without too much hassle ...remove the lower tin
> on the left side so you can eyeball the outer rubber water gasket.  If
> it's an external leak and it's 'head gasket' that's where it usually is.
>
> you have also ....in that area, the oil cooler hoses ......those split
> once in a while.
> there is a hose off the side of the head on a 2.1 - the one that goes
> up to the bleed rail ..
> connects sort of above the coil and a little aft. I have never seen
> one of those hoses fail though , or rarely.
>
> but ...plastic thermostat housing .
> seen loots of those melt and dissolve and just 'fail'.
>
> the hose that goes over the bell housing..
> particularly on an automatic trans van ..
> those get soft and fail...being exposed to heat coming off the torque
> converter..
> and also oil fumes from there a little too.
>
> shouldn't be real hard to find - your leak, if that's what is going on.
>
> Getting the lower tin off can be difficult if the exhaust nuts/bolls
> bolt at the top of the tin piece don't cooperate.  I sometimes  use
> only one of the upper mounting tabs on the left side tin - since
> sometimes you want to get that tin off to get at the oil pressure
> sender under there.
>
> Scott
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Rodgers" <inua@CHARTER.NET>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Thursday, May 19, 2011 2:11 PM
> Subject: Re: 2.1 L Head Leaks
>
>
>>  Definitely coolant. Orange/red Dex-cool.  Lately I have had to add a
>> little bit at times. Never anything on the ground/o pavement, though,
>> until today.
>>
>> John
>>
>> John Rodgers
>> Clayartist and Moldmaker
>> 88'GL VW Bus Driver
>> Chelsea, AL
>> Http://www.moldhaus.com
>>
>>
>> On 5/19/2011 3:28 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans wrote:
>>> hi...
>>> regarding the reddish orange puddle .........
>>> rusty old coolant ?
>>> or Dexcool orange coolant ? ...........or VW orange ?
>>> Is it using coolant ?
>>>
>>> that's what I'd suggest first..
>>> be sure it's a cooling system and head issue.
>>> there are small hoses that can leak in that area also ....oil cooler.
>>> and it's not Power Steering ATF somehow is it ?
>>>
>>> it does help to have someone who knows them pretty well..
>>> and likes waterboxer vangons too, for something to work on.
>>>
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "John Rodgers" <inua@CHARTER.NET>
>>> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>>> Sent: Thursday, May 19, 2011 12:56 PM
>>> Subject: 2.1 L Head Leaks
>>>
>>>
>>>>  It appears my 88 GL has developed a head leak.
>>>>
>>>> I went to the VA Hospital this mornig for a checkup, and when I came
>>>> out, there was a reddish orange puddle underneath the van on the left
>>>> side about where the head would be. Surely the dreaded head leak. Got
>>>> about 137K on the rebuilt with no trouble with heads. I guess it was a
>>>> pretty good rebuild.
>>>>
>>>> So now it must be done. I am not able to do this myself, so need
>>>> recommendations as to how to go about getting this done. My main
>>>> man has
>>>> gone out of business, so that leaves only a Birmingham shop that I
>>>> have
>>>> heard of that does VW. The reports on the quality of work have been
>>>> all
>>>> over the place. Makes it rather iffy.
>>>>
>>>> Any suggestions on how to approach this problem would be appreciated.
>>>>
>>>> BTW, it's getting more and more difficult to find anyone in this
>>>> region
>>>> who is competent - and willing - to work on these vans.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks.
>>>>
>>>> John
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> John Rodgers
>>>> Clayartist and Moldmaker
>>>> 88'GL VW Bus Driver
>>>> Chelsea, AL
>>>> Http://www.moldhaus.com
>>>
>>>
>
>
>