Well it is that time of the year again.  Time for the cool breezes to blow,
the trees to change color, and sweet green fluid to be smelt eminating from
the rear of our precious Vanagons.
Now I know some of you are thinking, is this guy psychic or just nuts.  Well
neither it just is that time of the year when the temperatures start to go
down after a nice warm summer that head gaskets on our Vanagons are facing a
rough time.
I think it has to do with the nature of our beasts.  The way the head gaskets
are set up they take quite a bit of expansion and contraction.  That is why
they are rubber and not metal like most cars.  And being rubber some of them
will have aged and taken a set.  Over the summer they got used to expanding
and contracting just so much.  But now in the cooler and cooler temps some of
our gaskets are going to decide that they have had enough of these endless hot
and cold cycles.  That when they are called upon to withstand a bigger
expansion and contraction change due to the larger change in temperatures
(from 30 deg to 170 deg) they will refuse to bend and so they will crack and
leak.  It happens every year about this time.
What can you do about it?  Saving up some money wouldn't hurt.  Beware of
planning long trips at this time of year.  And just be aware that this might
happen so bring some extra coolant along with you so you can get home.
Why did I bring this up?  Well "to be forewarned is to be forearmed" and all
that.
Hope this doesn't happen to you. :)
Ken Wilford
John 3:16
Van-Again