hi Spencer,
Do you have the new heads on yet? If not I'd like to suggest this .. it's
not a cure or a repair but an experiment.
Get 2 bottles of Subaru coolant conditioner, pour it in the expansion vase
(remove some coolant first). Drive around for a couple days waiting for a
mechanic or shop.
Then later report back to see if the Subaru conditioner works or not.
https://www.amazon.com/Subaru-OEM-Coolant-System-Conditioner/dp/B00WFI0W2Q

On Tue, Apr 11, 2023 at 7:23 AM Spencer Allen <soxndubs1951@gmail.com>
wrote:

> Thanks to Eric, Dennis and all who gave great feedback on my leaking heads.
> I see everyone's opinion is that the heads should be replaced soon if not
> immediately. Small back story; I bought a new tin top in 1985 and it had
> leaking heads almost right out of the gate and VW never really admitted
> there was a problem and did bandaid "repairs"but some of the older listers
> here might remember the "secret" warranty repair that VW authorized dealers
> to perform . Anyway I didn't know to pursue this so I lived with the
> leaking heads for the 8 years I drove it. The end of ownership came after
> replacing 3 water pumps in a row and then the long coolant pipes rusting
> through and letting go on a winter's day. So my current 85 Westy I
> purchased in 1999 with 62K on her has always had the small leaks too again
> mostly while sitting graged during winter. Now at 104K on this original
> engine I guess, from reading all the replies to my post, i've been leading
> a charmed life these past 20 years in not having serious damage done to the
> engine. A while back when a non VW mechanic  did a small repair I mentioned
> the leak and he poured in a bottle of Subaru miracle stop-leak additive and
> that stopped the leak for a couple of seasons. Being an old guy that has
> accepted the leaking heads as a way of life with Vanagons, I was reluctant
> but went ahead and bought the GW heads this winter. Now I have to find a
> competent mechanic in the Chicago area to put them on and get the tuning
> and coolant bleeding correct and hoping the cure isn't worse than the
> illness. If anyone has a suggested shop for this work anywhere in the
> Midwest please send it along. Thanks again to everyone who replied and I
> will report on the "post-op" when completed.
> Spencer
>
> On Mon, Apr 10, 2023 at 9:33 PM Eric Caron <ericcaron96@comcast.net>
> wrote:
>
> > Hi Spencer,
> >
> > Have you come up with a plan?
> >
> > Eric Caron
> >
> >
> > > On Apr 7, 2023, at 8:14 PM, Jeff Palmer <w.jeff.palmer@ICLOUD.COM>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > Agree! The problem won’t fix itself :)
> > > Jeff
> > >
> > > Sent from my iPhone
> > >
> > >> On Apr 7, 2023, at 5:00 PM, David McNeely <davmcneely40@gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> > >>
> > >> Very ignorant here, but my feeling is leaking heads mean it's time to
> > do
> > >> the job.  Do you want the engine to blow up when moving at high speed
> > (or
> > >> any time for that matter)?
> > >>
> > >>> On Fri, Apr 7, 2023 at 6:45 AM Spencer Allen <soxndubs1951@gmail.com
> >
> > wrote:
> > >>>
> > >>> I had my 85 stock westy inspected and some brake work done and the
> > mechanic
> > >>> says I should replace the leaking heads. I may have jumped the gun
> and
> > >>> ordered the GW super duper ($$$) reworked AMC heads. The thing is my
> OE
> > >>> heads have been leaking for the last 20 years and 60K I've owned it.
> > The
> > >>> major leaking occurs during the winters while it's stored in my
> garage
> > so
> > >>> when spring comes I have to top up the fill tank with about a qt of
> > >>> coolant. Summer it does drip but nothing major. Engine runs fine with
> > no
> > >>> white exhaust smoke. My question is what are the main reasons for
> > replacing
> > >>> heads and how do you know when you've reached that point?
> > >>> Spencer
> > >>>
> >
>