Date: Fri, 28 Jan 2005 17:06:57 -0600
Reply-To: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Subject: Re: New Vanagon with coolant leak
In-Reply-To: <200501281545.j0SFjRZ16755@mailrtr03.ntelos.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
When you get a "new" Vanagon, unless you know it's complete history in
detail, the first thing you do is replace ALL fuel hoses at one time,
and you do thing immediately after purchase. No waiting, as all Vanagons
are fireballs waiting to happen. The second thng you do is replace all
the coolant hoses - except perhaps the metal ones down under, and even
at that you give that a really careful going over.
Keep in mind even the '91 Vanagons are 14 years old. Fourteen year old
fuel injection lines and coolant hoses are a pure invitation to trouble.
A fuel leak can cost you the entire vehicle, a hose leak can cost you
the engine - also an expensive item to fix.
The fuel hose kits comple run about $60-$70, cheap enough. The coolant
hoses a bit more due to the number, sizes, and lengths.
regards,
John Rodgers
88 GL Driver
Michael Amato wrote:
>When I dropped the Vanagon off the first time he said he would pressure test
>it to find any leaks so I assume it has been done, but I will ask again.
>Exactly how many hoses and clamps are there in the cooling system. I know he
>has replaced several, but would it be foolish to replace them all as a
>preventive maintenance or would this be cost prohibitive.
>
>The leak is not coming out of the oil pressure relief valve I don't believe
>actually I may have misspoke as it seems to be coming off the left upper
>edge of the square piece of metal that looked like a bold but it is actually
>just part of the metal.
>
>As soon as Bus Depot opens I will call and get a copy of Bentley that way I
>can speak more intelligently both to you all and the mechanic.
>
>Thanks for your patience,
>
>Mike Amato
>Staunton, VA
>85 Westy (still leaking)
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Sam Walters [mailto:sam.cooks@verizon.net]
>Sent: Friday, January 28, 2005 10:07 AM
>To: Michael Amato
>Subject: Re: New Vanagon with coolant leak
>
>That dripping that you see is probably from somewhere higher on the
>engine. Are you talking about a flat bolt or screw about 1" plus in
>diameter with a large flat head screwdriver gap in it? Coolant wouldn't
>drip out of that as it is how you get to the oil pressure relief
>valve. So the leak is higher. That is the water pump side. Coolant
>is relatively clear when trickling down the side of the engine and often
>not that easy to see until it gets to a point where it either pools or
>forms drops.
>
>Ask him if when he pressure tested it, he used dye and a black light to
>look for the leak or just looked.
>
>If you get the dye from an auto parts store and a black light, you can
>do this effectively.
>
>Sam
>
>--
>Sam Walters
>Baltimore, MD
>
>89 Syncro GL
>85 Westy Weekender
>
>All incoming and outgoing email scanned by
>automatically updated copy of Norton AntiVirus.
>
>
>
>
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