Date: Mon, 7 Jun 2004 15:42:06 -0700
Reply-To: Jack Keegan <keegan@CECS.PDX.EDU>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jack Keegan <keegan@CECS.PDX.EDU>
Subject: Overheating problem
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I have an 85 GL with the 2.1L engine and a few overheating questions for
any of the wise and experienced folks on this list.
Background: I took it in for a fuel leak and the mechanic found a
coolant leak, and it is the all-too-common head gasket, but it's not too
serious at this point, and more importantly, I'm broke, so it's going to
have to wait. He also found that there was no coolant overflow tank
behind the license plate, and that the cap on the main tank was the
wrong one, so he installed an overflow with the right cap.
After that, the temperature light started flashing now and again. The
temp gauge would immediate go to max as well, even if the van had been
sitting for an hour or so. If it started flashing while driving,
turning the heater on would immediately solve the problem, and it would
stop flashing and drop back down.
Well, the last time I drove it, (it's not a daily driver, so a couple of
weeks had passed) the light started flashing, and the heater didn't help
right away, so I stopped. I looked at the engine, and the main coolant
tank was really low, but the overflow was overfull. When the engine
cooled down, I opened the main tank to add coolant, and as soon as it
was depressurized, it filled up, not all the way, but mostly. So I added
coolant and went home without problems. When I looked closely, I found
a tiny little crack in the main reservoir.
After it cools to RT, the main tank is basically full, and there is way
too much coolant in the overflow behind the license plate.
Could the crack in the main reservoir not allow the coolant in the
overflow to be sucked back into the main tank? It seems like it is only
going one way-into the overflow. Would replacing the main reservoir or
sealing the crack help the problem? If I decided to try sealing it,
would I want to drain the overflow tank some before using, because it is
way above the max line at this point? What is the best way to do that?
Also, the coolant leak was really minor before the overflow tank was
added, and we never had overheating problems. It seems to have gotten
worse, a couple of drops of coolant on the pavement overnight vs a 2-3
diameter spot. Would adding the overflow make the head gasket leak
worse? It also doesn't seem to leak all the time. I'll get a little
spot every 3rd or 4th time I drive it.
Any advice on this is appreciated.
jk
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