The flaw is the design of the 'top end' of the engine. VW chose to reuse the
old air-cooled engine design, but added a water jacket around the cylinders.
This water jacket is sealed by a rubber gasket, which will not withstand
great pressure. This gasket as it ages cracks and splits, allowing corrosion
to develop in the sealing area of the gasket, which eventually pushes the
cracks open wider, and produces the drips and gushers the Vanagon is so
noted for. Note that Vanagons with regular coolant USING the 'special' VW
antifreeze STILL have the same problem. I'm not just 'blowin' off steam' ,
I've seen it many times, and as early as 30K miles! VW should have A)
installed the inline engine (that they already had setup in the diesel
version!), or B) examined a Subaru engine to see how a waterboxer SHOULD be
built, in regards to the heads and  cylinders. Look for the proof in South
Africa, what engine are they using there, the 'boxer, or the inline 4? Seems
to me like they finally figured it out, huh? Rant mode off........

Karl

----- Original Message -----
From: Woody Halsey <WoodyHalsey@compuserve.com>
To: karl <thewestyman@MINDSPRING.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, November 17, 1999 6:55 AM
Subject: Re:VW coolant myth

Dear Karl,

Very interesting comment. What *is* the design flaw in the Wasserboxer? Why
are so many listees so adamant about using the phosphate free coolant and
distilled water?

Woody