----------
> From: Ian Cameron <ianc@UVIC.CA>
> To: Vanagon@VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Head (gasket) fix
> Date: Thursday, April 02, 1998 4:21 PM
>
> At 01:18 PM 3/31/98 -0600, Patrick Larsen wrote:
>
> The large standard deviation leads me to believe
> >there are variables other than just a design flaw. These variables may
or
> >may not include coolant type, water type, flush intervals, driving
style,
> >climate, stored in winter or not, ever overheated...I'm sure there are
many
> >more but you get my point.
> >
> >Note: I am neither a statistician nor a waterboxer expert, these are the
> >opinions of a layperson :)
> >
> I AM a statistician, and my guess is that we can find out why these head
> fail with a high degree of certainty. There is a large enough N (number
of
> cases) to make a statistically valid test possible.  If anyone is serious
> about this, here are the obvious variables.  If you can think of any
> others, let me know (reply to the list so everyone can see.)  If you
think
> I've listed some that are not important, say so.  Once we've agreed on
the
> important variables, I'll structure a survey form and owners can answer
it
> and someone (not me) can collect and collate the data.  I'll do a
> regression, and presto! we'll (maybe) have a better idea as to what goes
> wrong.
> VARIABLES
> Coolant type, pH of water, time between coolant changes, average length
of
> trip, average speed during average trip (including stops), range of
ambient
> temperature during driving year.  More?  Fewer?
> Ian Cameron
> U of Victoria
> Victoria, B.C.
=====================
Maybe you could find out what the temperature gauges are reading when the
van is idling and running.
Also, I was wondering why we flush out our vans with faucet water. Is there
another solution, such as
flushing with a industrial sized water filter on the other end? Crazy, but
not altogether impossible. Right?
Brad.