Date:         Thu, 3 Aug 2000 15:27:23 -0700
Reply-To:     Daniel Schmitz <djs@gene.com>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Daniel Schmitz <djs@gene.com>
Organization: Genentech, Inc.
Subject:      Coolant coming out...
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

It's my turn to have a cooling system question.

I seem to have an intermittent coolant leak, but only AFTER driving the
van, not during or while engine is running.

I noticed today that there was a puddle of coolant underneath the
center, rear of my parked '87 camper. I had driven the van to work, and
it had been parked for about 90 minutes. When I returned to the van to
run an errand, there was a puddle of green liquid under the center, rear
area of the van, about under the coolant recovery tank.

I went ahead and drove the van, and after parking it 3 more times, did
not see anymore evidence of coolant on the ground.

Also, my overflow tank (behind the license plate) fills almost full
while the van is running and up to operating temp, and then the level
comes back down when it cools off, but not quite as far back down as it
used to. I can also see bubbling in the tank while the engine is hot and
running and this continues for awhile after I shut it down. When the
engine is cold, the coolant level is lower, but still above the upper
line; previously it was between the upper and lower lines, which is
normal.

I see no evidence of the water pump leaking or leaks from anywhere else.

Temperature gauge reads normal all the time.

Van runs great; just changed the oil, no evidence of coolant in oil or
oil in coolant.

Assumptions:

The pressure cap is not holding pressure, and upon shutting down the hot
engine, coolant temp rises just enough to force coolant into the
recovery tank, which then overflows. This is happening intermittently,
however, so I'm not sure if it's the correct assessment.

Any thoughts? Should I just go ahead and get a new pressure cap and
thermostat as preventative maintenance? I don't actually think the van
is running hot, judging by the temp gauge, and as far as I know, the
pressure cap may be the original.

Also, the engine has about 20K miles on it, and the coolant the PO ran
is green. It looked like the correct blue from outside the tank, but
upon seeing it on the ground, it's definitely the familiar green coolant
common to other vehicles.

Confirmation? If so, I guess I will need to change it soon to prolong my
relatively young engine.

Dan