Date: Wed, 26 Nov 2003 05:58:11 -0500
Reply-To: Ken Lewis <kdlewis_wasting_time@ACCESS4LESS.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Ken Lewis <kdlewis_wasting_time@ACCESS4LESS.NET>
Subject: Re: Coolant hose fatigue
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William,
I think you were actually pretty lucky to have a "small" leak. Had it been a
catastrophic failure, the engine could have pumped it's self dry before you
got it pulled over. Exposed piston cylinders get hot very quick causing
water to turn to steam. Water volume increases by hundreds of factors. Right
about now is when the head gaskets melted out the bottom of the engine on my
wife's 85 GL, stranding her fifty miles from home.
Ken Lewis
86 Transporter Crew Cab
60 356 T-5 Porsche
http://neksiwel.20m.com/
Vanagon tech, pixs, O2 monitor gadget
----- Original Message -----
From: "developtrust" <developtrust@COX.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, November 26, 2003 12:27 AM
Subject: Coolant hose fatigue
> I want to know if anyone can suggest any hoses that I should replace other
> than the one mentioned below (the small 2 inch hose that is about 6 inches
> long and goes from the engine to the long cooling pipes.)
>
> Driving down the freeway to San Diego California my LED light on the
> temperature gauge begins to blink and the van is running hot (the fan
comes
> on and goes off.) When I reach my destination I call the VW dealer to ask
> about it. They say to look at the coolant tank, the one where you add
> coolant. It was empty so I refill it and start up the engine. My wife
> notices a leak below the van so I crawl under to look see and notice that
> the small 2 inch hose that goes from the engine to the long cooling pipes
> has a small pin hole leak. (It is probably a 1 & 1/2 inch hose.) I wrap it
> with tape and clamp it to get me home. I had to fill the coolant tank 3
> times to get the LED light to stop flashing. I made an appointment with
the
> VW dealer to diagnose everything, replace that hose and flush the system
to
> put in new coolant. It was due for new coolant anyhow after about almost 2
> years since the last flush and new coolant. I just do not6 feel like doing
> the work myself.
>
> I am asking advice from those who have had similar problems before. So
other
> than this 6 inch long two inch OD hose what other hoses should I get
> replaced? Is it worth the effort and cost to replace all those expensive
> hoses or just wait for them to fail one by one?
>
> William
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