Date: Mon, 3 Nov 2003 18:39:36 -0500
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Subject: Re: Coolant loss mystery
In-Reply-To: <AIEFIGCNNANNIHLNFBPEAEJPJHAA.vanagon@volkswagen.org>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
One of the worst things for a cooling system is the regular topping off
of coolant. Every time you add coolant, you are also adding water with
freshly dissolved oxygen. Corrosion, here it comes. It is important for
the system to be tight.
The cooling system should not be opened or bleed with a warm engine.
Water even with Antifreeze will vaporize as law as 140 or so. As soon as
the system is opened, the vapor will make bleeding difficult as you now
some steam. In addition, since the heads have areas that get hooter than
the coolant, the loss of pressure will cause some "flashing" which will
cause uneven cooling and possible head warping, seal damage. I have also
found there is no benefit to raising the front. In fact it makes it
harder for the water pump to push the coolant up hill.
As for the perplexing tale, make sure the pressure cap is working
properly and have a leak down test performed to make sure coolant is not
leaking into the cylinders or combustion gasses pushing the coolant out
while driving.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of David Marshall
Sent: Monday, November 03, 2003 5:06 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Coolant loss mystery
One of two things.
They didn't bleed the system correctly and you are still on a massive
'top
up' of the cooling system or there is indeed a leak.
My Single Cab takes about 1L of coolant per 1000km of driving. There is
a
small pin hole somewhere in the rad when it is warm I can get a slight
coolant smell up front. So far a small hole, but I am looking forward
to a
radiator change here soon I am sure.
I would make sure the round tank is full - take it for a good drive to
get
it nice and warm and then re-bleed the system. Park the van so the nose
is
on a light up hill, remove the grille, get a partner to rev the engine
to
about 2000 to 2500 rpm and slightly open the 13mm bolt at the top of the
rad. Some air should come out and eventually coolant. While revving
the
motor, go to the back and refill the round bottle and put the top back
on -
go to the front and make sure a small trickle of coolant is still coming
out
and no more bubbles - when there are no more bubbles make sure the 13mm
bolt
is tightened and there is no significant void in the round tank. Make
sure
the square tank is filled to the bottom of the opening. When the motor
is
shut off and starts to cool it will suck in the water from the square
tank
to the round tank. After that there should be no more coolant
consumption
unless you do have a leak in the system somewhere.
Perhaps (read perhaps) if they pressure bleed the system they applied
more
pressure to the system that it normally saw and they created a new leak.
This would have to be a lot of pressure for this to happen and this is
why I
strongly stay PERHAPS!
Hopefully you just have to burp the system one more time! :-)
David Marshall
Fast Forward Automotive Inc.
4356 Quesnel-Hixon Road
Quesnel BC Canada V2J 6Z3
http://www.fastforward.ca mailto:sales@fastforward.ca
Phone: (250) 992 7775 FAX: (250) 992 1160
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-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
Of T Murphy
Sent: November 3, 2003 1:43 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Coolant loss mystery
Here's the perplexing tale..
After seeing that the coolant was a putrid yellow
looking pool of old sludge, I decided to have Volks
Cafe run a check on the system and flush it as well.
They ended up putting in a new 80 degree thermostat,
fan switch and 7mm hose (don't know which or where)
and replacing it with new coolant.
When I was leaving, they told me that the level in the
overflow reservoir would go down as a result of
pressure rebuilding in the system. It did. I filled
it back up. It did again (entirely gone this time)
and I've filled it up again. I called them to ask if
this was normal and they said that it's abnormal and
that I have a leak. They recommended that I look
under the entire vehicle as well as the engine
compartment while running. I did this and have not
seen a drop.
I'm a bit perturbed that I spent nearly $200 and came
away with a problem that didn't exist before. They
just told me that it's the way it is with vw vans,
etc..
Does anyone have any experience with this type of
thing? Is it possible that the coolant is burning
away internally or something?
where or where has my coolant gone?
thanks in advance
tom
'86 wolfsburg
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