Date: Thu, 3 Apr 2003 07:10:02 +0930
Reply-To: bobbol@ADAM.COM.AU
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Bob Bolton <bobbol@ADAM.COM.AU>
Subject: Re: Van runs hot in traffic jams
In-Reply-To: <001701c2f90b$419bef10$6400a8c0@masterpc>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Hmmm I don't like the sound of that - particularly since the coolant level
drops when the temp reads high, although there is no evidence of any leaking.
The dealer said the temp would have built up pressure and pumped some coolant
out... (yes, the vehicle still has 6 months of warranty left) :(
Bob
Quoting Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>:
> Intermittent cooling system weirdness is the major symptom of combustion
> gasses getting into the cooling system. The air pockets interrupt the
> coolant flow, particularly in the radiator.
>
> Dennis
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf
> Of Bob Bolton
> Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2003 3:57 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Van runs hot in traffic jams
>
> I have had this trouble, but on my 84, the temp intermittently swung up
> to 3/4
> on the guage, sometimes in 'traffic jams', sometimes starting off.
> Genrally,
> she ran fine, just below the bezel. I think it was the fan not always
> working,
> and have had the radiator thermoswitch replaced. If it was head gasket,
> it
> wouldn't be intermittent, would it?
>
> Bob
>
> 84 camper 'Blunderbuss'
>
> Quoting Richard Brassaw <sendmeanemail@EARTHLINK.NET>:
>
> > It is relative in that if you are in a hot environment and the temp
> > needle starts to swing towards the top it is natural. However, in my
> > humble experience, when the weather is mild to cool and the temp
> needle
> > swings upward it could (and I stress could) be an indication that the
> > head gasket is leaking and exhaust is getting into the coolant system.
> >
> > Recently a mechanic gave me a tip that I haven't seen elsewhere and
> > although I haven't done it myself it does seem reasonable. He said
> with
> > the engine running to have the guy at the smog station sniff the water
> > bottle reservoir for CO2.
> >
> > Richard
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
> Behalf
> > Of Dennis Haynes
> > Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2003 2:37 PM
> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > Subject: Re: Van runs hot in traffic jams
> >
> > Sounds perfectly normal. When the van is not moving, there is no air
> > flow through the radiator. As the radiator warms up , the warm water
> > coming out will cause the engine to run hooter. When the coolant in
> the
> > radiator reches the set point for the fan switch, the fan will turn
> on.
> > If the tempaparature continues to rise, the fan will go into high
> speed.
> >
> >
> > Dennis
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On
> Behalf
> > Of Greg Kriss
> > Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2003 7:33 AM
> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > Subject: Van runs hot in traffic jams
> >
> > Have a 90 Carat with an auto trans. Engine has maybe 150K on it. The
> van
> > runs fine, minimal oil useage and almost no coolant useage. Normal
> > driving, running around town, or at 60mph on the highway, the temp
> guage
> > always stays cool below the idiot light in the center of the guage.
> But
> > when I get stuck in a traffic jam, after a few minutes the van runs
> > hotter with the guage needle above the idiot light. I was stuck in a 5
> > mile backup in NYC Sunday night moving along between stop and go up to
> > maybe 15mph. (over an hour of creeping along). Outside temp around 35
> > degrees. The needle was above the idiot light and once or twice the
> fan
> > went on. Van never came close to overheating. Air flow I'm sure was
> > probably minimal in front of the van. Once through the backup, and up
> to
> > a steady 40+ mph the needle went below the idiot light. Rest of trip
> van
> > ran cool.
> >
> > Warmed up the van for 15 minutes yesterday morning and needle never
> went
> > above the idiot light. Running around town for an hour or so
> yesterday,
> > van ran cool as usual.
> >
> > What goes? Is this normal?
> >
> > My guess is that the cooling syatem is a bit under-designed for
> traffic
> > jams.
> >
> > thanks
> >
> > Greg
> >
> >
> > _____________________________________________________________
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>
>
>
>
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