You probably have a bad seal at the top of one or more cylinder where it meets the head, inside the water jacket. This is part of the head gasket on most engines but it is a separate piece on these. The problem was almost certainly there before you bought it. The "steam" you think is bubbling in the coolant tank is really combustion gases leaking past the sealing ring. This high pressure gas leaks into the cooling system and forces coolant out the overflow tank. Another possible source for the gases getting into the cooling system is a cracked head. Pretty common problem and many people sell the things rather than risk the worst case $2000 head reseal or replacement. Only $800 if you are lucky, $500 more for each head if you are not.
Mark |
Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of
Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection
will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!
Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com
The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.
Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.