Date: Thu, 18 Feb 2016 23:18:47 +0000
Reply-To: J Stewart <fonman4277@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: J Stewart <fonman4277@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: Winter storage leaking heads seals
In-Reply-To: <CA+r=Jhpsb7_vTpt76maWOQiBdDcyHXsy9rWxsKxNZu_msZpQtw@mail.gmail.com>
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Well, my last head gasket job lasted 300 miles before it started leaking again, but not in the same place. My failure the second time was around one of the head nuts. I was then told by a couple of learned VW sources that reusing a head can *sometimes* lead to cracks around the head nuts. In my case it must have. New head from Go Westy and the second head gasket is holding fine after thousands of miles. Funny how much faster the job goes the second time! Jeff
----- Original Message -----
> The leakage is from the rubber water jacket seal which you can see and
> touch if you remove the engine tin below the pushrod tubes. It is often
> called the head gasket (incorrectly in my opinion). The actual head gasket
> which withstands the compression is a narrow metal ring between the head
> and the cylinder; it probably is not leaking.
> If the heads fit properly against the case with the correct gap at the
> water jacket, a new rubber seal there should stop your leaking. There may
> be some pitting of the edge of the water jacket on the head. Some volks
> fill this with JB weld; others use gasket sealant like the "Right Stuff".
> In any case there is no need to change to different heads, assuming there
> are no other troubles with valves, etc.
> I am not sure that it is possible for coolant to be lost from the refill
> bottle behind the license plate while the van is just standing in storage,
> unless your coolant cap is letting it thru easily.
> Larry A.
> On Thu, Feb 18, 2016 at 4:15 PM, Spencer Allen <spencervw@aol.com> wrote:
> > So every year (for last 15 years) when the 85 westy is put under the
> > cover for winter I have watched for drips on the ground cover in the
> > garage. There has always been some drips from both heads but not enough to
> > cause panic. Years back my then new 85 GL tintop had drips right away but
> > like the westy now the leaks would go away (not completely) when the
> > weather warmed up. Anyway I just checked and there are bigger than
> > normal-about a large shot glass full- drip stains this winter on the
> > cardboard ground cover with coolant drops gathered on either side of engine
> > tin and case. the coolant in bottle is below lower mark. Would new head
> > gaskets & seals stop this annual event? If I remember from some ways back
> > that the new seals available won't cure the original heads from leaking.
> > Any suggestions or tips?
> > Sorry to be wearing this list out with my problems. Thanks.
> >
> > Spencer
> >
