Date:         Sun, 24 Mar 2002 23:02:58 EST
Reply-To:     VW85Westy@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Peter Krogh <VW85Westy@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Cooling System Pressure Test Protocol
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Thanks for the responses on the coolant problem.  Although many people seem
to suffering from similar symptoms, I still have not heard from anyone who
has had the same problem, that was *not* a head problem.

I will try early this week to find someone to pressure test the cooling
system, and have  a few questions.

Bently says, I recall, that to pressure test, you put a tester on the
expansion tank and pump.  I wonder if this will put equal pressure all the
way through the cooling system.  Closed thermostat, circuitious tubing, and
multiple loops seem as though they would keep the pressure from being
distributed equally throughout the system.

I was planning on having the van tested at the expansion tank, as well as at
the front heater (If we can put a T in where the pipe connects to the feed
pipe to the front heater core.)  I was assuming that we should put it under
pressure and leave it for several hours or a day, and that it should hold
pressure for that time.  Any loss of pressure would indicate a leak that had
to be fixed.

I am concerned that my cooling system leak, whether in a head crack, or in
the system at large, occurs only at operating temperatures.  I wonder if that
would make it nearly impossible to track down.

Anybody have experience tracking down such a leak?  Is the equipment to do
the tests available for a reasonable price, or is this something that I need
to have a FLARS do?  Any help appreciated.

Thanks, Peter