Date:         Wed, 28 Aug 2002 13:25:07 EDT
Reply-To:     KimBrennan@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Kim Brennan <KimBrennan@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re:       Coolant Leak! Help!
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

In a message dated 8/28/02 12:29:24 PM, steven@EPOCHDESIGN.COM writes:


> could it be that it's
> getting a little too hot and when I drive that last half mile of steep
> road,
> it's overflowing out the rear? Or do I have a more serious problem here?
>

I've got the same problem on my Westy...but it doesn't have anything to do
with the steepness of the   road. Just whether your system is hot...and hence
pressurized. I haven't worried too much about it to this point, as I'm pretty
sure the issue is with one of the hoses going to the overflow tank....

Esssentially, this is what my analysis is. When your coolant system is hot
and pressurized, some of the coolant moves over to your overflow tank. As the
system sits (engine off) there is less circulation and the pressure will go
up a bit more than when running. This means that hoses clamps that have a
marginal seal when running may leak a bit when your engine is very hot and
has just been shut down. Normally, the coolant will transfer over to the
overflow tank when hot, and as the system cools (and depressurizes) will
transfer back to regular system.

Annoying, but should have an easy fix, and hence I've been lazy enough to not
worry about it (especially when I'm not using that Van.)