Date:         Tue, 25 Jan 2000 15:18:18 -0800
Reply-To:     Stuart MacMillan <stuart@COBALTGROUP.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Stuart MacMillan <stuart@COBALTGROUP.COM>
Organization: The Cobalt Group
Subject:      Re: Coolant Leak around Sensor in Reservoir
Comments: To: Gregg Howald <ghowald@HOTMAIL.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Gregg Howald wrote:
>
> I have a problem with coolant leaking from around the Coolant Level Sensor
> in the reservoir tank.  It happens regularly when the engine is under load,
> ie, driving uphill, city traffic etc.  It is getting to be more of a problem
> as of lately - losing more and more coolant overnight.  The obvious answer
> may be to replace the sensor, but I was wondering about the potential for an
> underlying problem - the dreaded head gasket scenario.  One item to note is
> that the reservoir tank is full to the brim and always has been, is this
> normal???

Yes, should be absolutely no air in the reservoir.  Tank could be
cracked (they are famous for this) or the o ring bad, most likely it's
not the sensor itself leaking.

> The hypothesis proposed by my local parts supplier  - if the head gasket has
> been compromised, compression may be leaking into the water jacket and
> causing backpressure into the coolant tank, thus forcing the leak.  I am not
> noticing any leakage elsewhere or loss of coolant.

Excessive pressure should be relieved by the reservoir cap (might put a
new one on just for the heck of it), and the fluid will rise in the
overflow bottle. An air bubble will usually form in the reservoir too.
It is pretty obvious when the head gasket fails to this point, you will
know something is wrong!
>

--
Stuart MacMillan
Manager, Case Program
800-909-8244 ext 208

Getting your share of the Net yet?
http://www.cobaltgroup.com
http://www.casedealer.com/demo
http://www.caseihdealer.com/demo