It's gonna happen sooner or later.....just go and deal with whatever
comes...otherwise you can worry yourself into never going anywhere!  Owning
a Vanagon is a shot in the dark!

Best of luck..

Dane Tessler
87 Westfalia 138K
Treasure Island, FL
http://members.aol.com/Dane714/westfalia.html
-----Original Message-----
From: Kevin Sullivan <ksull@WAVE.MBARI.ORG>
To: Vanagon@VANAGON.COM <Vanagon@VANAGON.COM>
Date: Wednesday, April 08, 1998 5:26 PM
Subject: Long road trip risk- coolant leaks

I'm planning to do a 4000 mile r/t road trip the middle of next
month (CA to MN and back) and was wondering if I should
be genuinely concerned about the potential of the infamous
head leak problem.

Our '87 westy syncro currently has 84k miles and has never
displayed any signs of coolant leaks or evaporation. I've replaced
the fluid every year with a 'no phos-phate'  coolant and distilled
water.  Am I taking a gamble or is it just a shot in the dark?

Is there anything else I should inspect as well?

Thanks,   Kevin Sullivan