Date:         Wed, 5 Nov 2003 15:07:11 -0800
Reply-To:     Peter Lofting <lofting@APPLE.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Peter Lofting <lofting@APPLE.COM>
Subject:      Re: Coolant loss mystery - hot gas
Comments: To: Ben huot <huotx@VIDEOTRON.CA>
In-Reply-To:  <vanagon%2003110513391798@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed"

Another cause of coolant loss can be exhaust gas leaking into the
cooling circuit via a cracked head. I've got this charming condition
at the moment. It leads to over-pressurization of the cooling circuit
and forcing of liquid out the overflow tank. Result is I have to burp
the system and top up coolant every 200 miles.

It often happens inconveniently and I have to pull over to attend to
the idiod light with a hot engine. Therefore my technique is to open
the pressurized tank a tad and burp the gas out first. Then if the
coolant rushes into the tank, to rev the engine hard using the
throttle on the engine block. This causes the level to get sucked
back down and enables me to remove the cap fully and top up the level
while hot. You have to keep the engine revving all this time
otherwise the coolant overflows. Other than that its pretty
straightforward.

Peter
84 Westy


At 1:35 PM -0500 11/5/03, Ben huot wrote:
>Hi Tom,
>
>How many miles did you do since the repair/flush?
>If not much, continue driving for a wile, watch the temp and coolant level
>
>There is no mistery here:
>1-Evaporation (hole, bad cap, small leak, don't underestimate this one!)
>2-Lost of coolant (external, not your case)
>3-internal consumption (Big = white smoke)
>4-collant blend with oil (how is the oil level-smell-color)
>5-very bad bleeding (i doubt this one)
>
>Like another listee did mention, have a coolant pressure test done.
>http://www.benplace.com/pressure_test.htm
>http://www.benplace.com/cooling_system_flow.htm
>http://www.benplace.com/bleeding.htm
>
>Let us know
>Cheers, Ben
>http://www.benplace.com/ (am working on it...)
>73 & 84 Westy