Date:         Tue, 28 Sep 2004 18:09:11 -0700
Reply-To:     Barrett Willet <barrettw@NVENTURE.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Barrett Willet <barrettw@NVENTURE.COM>
Subject:      Coolant Leak near Oil Cooler/Water Pump - 88GL
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

I have always noticed small drips on the ground under the water pump and oil cooler since I bought the van 2 months ago.  Replaced the leaking water pump and reservoir tank less than 500 miles ago and everything was fine for awhile.  Leak reappeared and really opened up today .  Went through 3L of 50/50 Pentosin coolant on the way to and from work today.  Ironically my coolant level led and temperature gauge never showed any signs.  I guess I kept up with the refills quick enough.
Crawling under the van while it's running shows the leak coming from the same vicinity of the oil cooler and water pump.  Knowing that the water pump is new and work performed by a very reputable shop (Small Car Performance, Tacoma, WA) I'm "guessing" that it's the oil cooler or it's corresponding hoses.  It's so hard to tell since things are really tight in there without taking parts off.  Sorry AC compressor your outta here.  Now to the questions
1) How reliable are the oil coolers over time.  Mine looks to be the original by the 03/88 stamp on it.
2) Anyone ran into the same type of leak and replaced the oil cooler or hoses

Thanks for the help
Barrett
'88 Vanagon GL Wolfsburg
'87 A2 GTI 8V