Was that water pump leaking the shaft seal or a housing leak? BTW I also
have '88 Fox.  I love it! Got it in 2004 with 14,470 miles on it. Now almost
115K. There is a special metal -rubber gasket for the pump to housing to
stop the leaks from the paper gaskets.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Mark Dearing
Sent: Friday, February 24, 2012 12:21 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Preemptive water pump replacement? Miscellaneous
Chatter-coolant sealer

well sorry but I have seen the subie coolant treatment stop waterpump leaks,
had it do so on my own 88 fox lasted well over 8 months. also have seeen it
work on the wbx inner o rings and clylinder gaskets , as well as  the bigger
head seal gasket ,but not as well mostly if the leak there is  massive
  later  mark d

In a message dated 2/24/2012 12:02:59 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM writes:

Coolant  sealers and stop leaks do not work on water pump seals as they are
a moving  seal, not a hole to be clogged. Also once the water pump does leak
the  coolant can work into the bearing wiping it out quickly.

Also the  vanagon water boxer has absolutely nothing in common with head
gasket  design so no Subaru benefit here. Most any coolant sealer will work
on the  outer gasket as long as it not beginning to tear or split  open.

Dennis