Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2002 02:16:38 +0000
Reply-To: Randy Charrette <rcharrette@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Randy Charrette <rcharrette@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Cooling system level?
Content-Type: text/html
<html><div style='background-color:'><DIV>
<P>Thanks Marshall! Not only a big help to me, but sounds like some other people needed to hear about this as well. This does make sense because it was hot and I was climbing up a canyon road, pulled off to the side and shut down immediatly. Now, 2 days later still running perfect again. Boy did I panic!!!!!!! Head gaskets!!! Not this time</P>
<P>Randy Charrette</P>
<P>87' Syncro<BR></P></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>>From: Marshall <MJRUSKIN@SHAW.CA>
<DIV></DIV>>Reply-To: Marshall <MJRUSKIN@SHAW.CA>
<DIV></DIV>>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
<DIV></DIV>>Subject: Re: Cooling system level?
<DIV></DIV>>Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2002 22:58:37 -0500
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>Well, I have heard of this before, and I have 1 recommendation:
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>After a good long run at moderate to high temperature - do not pull to a stop, and shut off the engine.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>Your heads are really really hot, and coolant can/will boil in them, causing the overflow you experienced - because of excess pressure.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>After a long run, just let the car sit idling for 5 minutes or so, to allow the coolant to ciculate through the heads as they cool off.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>Maybe even give it a bit of throttle to get the coolant to the rad. That'd help.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>(Just ask me someday about my trip to BNNTA in Hannibal MO - I became the guru of overheating/overflowing issues)
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>Now, you should always have coolant in the "fill" bottle, even when cold.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>What I do is ensure it is at least a 1/4 to 1/2 full, when cold.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>After the overflow you experienced, you should fill the bottle with 50% coolant/water - and try to purge your system of air. No doubt that when your van - with an empty bottle - cooled, it sucked air into the cooling system, and you have to get this out or you could have an air bubble blocking the flow - and cause serious overheating.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>Really.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>Marshall Ruskin
<DIV></DIV>>84 Westy
<DIV></DIV>> ----- Original Message -----
<DIV></DIV>> From: Randy Charrette
<DIV></DIV>> To: vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com
<DIV></DIV>> Sent: Sunday, June 16, 2002 09:28 PM
<DIV></DIV>> Subject: Cooling system level?
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>> My 87' Syncro did something weird today. I drove for about 45 min. in high 80 degree weather. Engine temp was fine, but when I shut down coolant over flowed in the "fill" bottle and came spouting out of the little holes in the top.I heard it gurgling when this happened. I did not top it off again after this and continued on my day watching it. What I would like to know is- should the coolant be between min. and max when the engine is hot or cold? Right now after this incedent I am running in between the marks at operating temp, and no coolant in the fill bottle when cold. Is this right?
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>> Randy Charrette
<DIV></DIV>> 87' Syncro
<DIV></DIV>> 217K
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>> MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print your photos: Click Here
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>> ---
<DIV></DIV>> Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
<DIV></DIV>> Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
<DIV></DIV>> Version: 6.0.370 / Virus Database: 205 - Release Date: 5/11/2002
<DIV></DIV></div><br clear=all><hr>MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print your photos: <a href='http://g.msn.com/1HM505401/46'>Click Here</a><br></html>
|