I just heard George Bossart's sad tail of lifting the heads on his waterboxer (2nd generation) and having the the walls come up above the rings. I thought I was facing some top-end work for a small leak (refill the overflow tank after every 15 mile run) on my '87 where the wall hit the block, so I listened carefully and decided to stay out, and try Barr's Stop-Leak. They make several price ranges, with increasing complexity for proper use (the top grade theyclaim is for dead head gasgets-- might work as well or better.). I chose the next-to-most expensive, a copper color, and followed the instructions carefully. Had to 1)drain the antifreeze/coolant out, 2) use a flush, then 3) another rinse- out. All involved unclamping the hose up over the spare tire (took the whole pan off for easy access) and pulling it off each time-- watching out for HOT water coming out. And 4) refilling with the R wheels up on the ramps (slant put lots of uumph on the water coming out!). Finally 5) refilling with water-only plus the Barrs, and running a good while. Then draining the system again and refilling with coolant. Lots of little pissy jobs, over and over, but I have no leak for the present!! (About 120 K on the van, but previous owner claimed a rebuild at 50K by VW after a waranteed problem-- so maybe only 70K. I'll add an update if the situation changes, but for now I'm delighted. --Oh- I use it irregularly, as a 3rd car, except when running a bunch of boy scouts around or going camping-- only a couple of these per year.
