Replace the leaking heater core, NEVER use Bars Leak again (bad news for
these cars). TBD has the core at +ACQ-69.95, I think. Does the 'water' come out
of the exhaust only after you start it, or does it continue after driving
for awhile? If it is still coming out then, probably a cracked head or the
cylinder sealing rings.

Karl

----- Original Message -----
From: Keese, Brian W +ADw-bkeese+AEA-INDIANA.EDU+AD4-
To: +ADw-vanagon+AEA-GERRY.VANAGON.COM+AD4-
Sent: Sunday, May 23, 1999 1:06 PM
Subject: Water in the exhaust

+AD4- Hi all,
+AD4- I am new to this list and am already very impressed.
+AD4- I have just bought an 84 Westfalia.  It is beautiful and I love it, but I
am
+AD4- concerned.  It is loosing coolant:  in 100 miles it drained the overflow
+AD4- tank and part of the expansion tank.  I smelled the coolant smell when I
+AD4- turned on the heater and soon found the puddle by the rear heat exchanger.
+AD4- BARSleak seemed to fix that problem.  The water level stayed the same for
a
+AD4- couple of days, but now it has started to go down again.  I haven't had a
+AD4- chance to see if the heater core is leaking again, mostly because I fear
+AD4- that my real problem is more severe.  There is a lot of water in the
+AD4- exhaust.  At times it comes splashing out of the tailpipe.  At first I
+AD4- thought, +ACI-Oh it's just water, a natural part of the combustion process.+ACI-
+AD4- But I think it is too much.  I have read about the head gasket problem and
+AD4- am afraid that coolant is getting into a combustion chamber around one of
+AD4- the o-rings.  Any advice out there?  Or is this a definite candidate for a
+AD4- head gasket and/or possible head repacement?  I really don't want to tear
+AD4- the engine apart if there is some quicker or easier fix.
+AD4-
+AD4- Any help is greatly appreciated.
+AD4-
+AD4- Brian Keese
+AD4- New 84 Westy owner
+AD4- bkeese+AEA-indiana.edu