Date: Wed, 26 Nov 2003 10:32:52 -0500
Reply-To: Tim Demarest <tim.demarest@POBOX.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Tim Demarest <tim.demarest@POBOX.COM>
Subject: Re: Coolant hose fatigue
In-Reply-To: <000a01c3b3de$053978b0$6801a8c0@williamvafwvvc>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed
William,
This is only my free advice, and it's undoubtedly worth the price...
Hoses don't age well, if you have a leak in one, you'll get leaks
in others. First thing I did when I bought my '85 westy (in 2001) was to
replace all the engine and radiator hoses. I cheated a little by leaving
the old heater hoses in, but I carry a 'bypass kit' (short length of heater
hose, two clamps) so I can bypass the heater circuit at the engine if any
of those hoses spring a leak.
Leaving old hoses in may cost you more down the road, since the
wasserboxer is painfully vulnerable to head warpage on overheating (see the
list archives for a number of case studies).
Tim
At 09:27 PM 11/25/2003 -0800, developtrust wrote:
>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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