>>>>I checked the coolant and when I opened the reservoir it came bubbling out not steaming, but kind of flushing out. I quickly closed it again and screwed the lid back on with no trouble, so there wasn't a whole lot of pressure there.<<<< Another thing bro! Don't ever remove the expansion tank pressure cap!!!!!!! when the engine is hot, this cap is like a radiator cap, kind a stupid to do so!!!!! If you have no pressure wile removing this cap when the engine is hot you have a non-pressurise coolant system that will result in a overheating especially at freeway speed. Check that temp gauge over 55mph. Have a pressure test done: http://www.benplace.com/pressure_test.htm Leak / loss of pressure can be internal or external. Most common external coolant lost in order: -Expansion tank cap -Expansion tank (Crack) -Front and rear heater core (Easy fix on the road with clamp blocking the flow) -Thermostat housing (Seal, bleeder screw, crack in body, bad clamp) -Rusty metal cooling line -Front rad bleeding screw / front rad -Water pump -Heads studs leaking -Cooling hoses (mostly at junction, but VW hoses are very good) Diagnostic of a external coolant lost: -Coolant lost under the van -Coolant corrosion at hoses junction, head gasket, head stud, Internal lost: -Head cracks, can be oil into combustion chamber (Black/blue smoke), coolant in combustion chamber (White smoke), coolant into oil, oil into coolant. -Bad seal at top and/or bottom end of cylinders sleeve -Faulty water pump Diagnostic of internal leak: -Oil going into the cooling system (Mostly when engine is cold). Coolant rise slightly with a brownish color -Coolant going into the oil (Mostly when engine is hot). Oil level rising with coolant color/smell in it. High temp other problem: -Bad thermostat -Clogged frond rad -Faulty rad fan or sender -Bad water pump -Pited mating surface where water pump is. Damn, this is why it is call a wasser leaker. Cheers, Ben (Back from FL) http://www.benplace.com/ |
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