Date: Sat, 26 Feb 2005 10:19:23 -0700
Reply-To: Karl Wolz <wolzphoto@WORLDNET.ATT.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Karl Wolz <wolzphoto@WORLDNET.ATT.NET>
Subject: Re: Engine Still Overheating - Need Advice / Chapter Three
In-Reply-To: <002601c51c16$d12ea340$6400a8c0@t41>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Larry,
You're pretty much describing what I had last October. If the round
driver's side bottle is low and the squarish
in-front-of-the-license-plate bottle is full, you almost certainly have
exhaust accumulating in the coolant due to a bad compressions head
gasket. If it is marginal (mine was), it will only show up when the
engine is stressed by higher speeds of some other full-throttle
application.
I drove all the way from Go Westy up to Jeff's place in Sacramento at
around 45 mph. He pulled both head gaskets with the engine in the van,
BTW, and was able to get the job done in a full day.
Karl Wolz
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
Behalf Of
> Larry Chase
> Sent: Saturday, February 26, 2005 8:21 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Engine Still Overheating - Need Advice / Chapter Three
>
> Volks
>
> Troubleshooters extraordinaire ... Here's a good one.
>
> Sorry ... Kinda long.
>
> Roadhaus is still overheating.
>
> Picked the "Haus" up from the shop in Phoenix.
>
> We all thought the Overheating problems had been Fixed.
>
> Although I had several minor components replaced ... The major
> offender was a "impaired" Radiator.
>
> Replaced it with a new Behr unit.
>
> The shop did several idle and around town road tests. All
> seemed fine. Running temps were a "temp gauge needle" width
> lower than previous ... what one might expect with a new Radiator.
>
> Said my goodbyes and headed home.
>
> Jumped on the Freeway for a 90 miles drive from Phx to Tucson.
> After a short distance I stopped at REI for a few minutes.
>
> When I stated the haus up to leave ... The coolant led was on.
>
> Checked the fill bottle and a small amount of coolant had been
> pushed out and the bottle was full to the top. The Overflow
> Bottle was nearly empty. The engine temps were still good
> and hadn't increased at all.
>
> Since the shop was now closed I decided to try and make my
> way back to Tucson ... Keeping a careful and constant eye on
> the temp gauge.
>
> As soon as I get the speed up over 45-50 MPH the engine began
> overheating.
>
> Overflow bottle emptied and fill bottle filled to top.
> If I keep the speed down to 45 and below ... It doesn't
> boil over and engine temps stay normal.
> If I load the engine more and/or increase speed .... Engine
> temps increase to high levels and fill bottle begins to boil
> over.
>
> Summary of Repair, Check and Replace Activities:
>
> Fan - Checked / OK
> Resistor - Checked / OK
> Fuse for Fan - Checked / OK
> Combustion Gasses in cooling system checked - Checked / OK
> Water Pump - Checked / OK
> Thermo Switch Wire - Checked / OK
> Thermo Switch - Replaced
> Plastic Bleeder Ring - Replaced
> Pressure Cap - Replaced
> Overflow Bottle Cap - Replaced
> Thermostat - Replaced Twice
> Radiator - Replaced
>
> No evidence of water in the oil
> No visual evidence of water in exhaust
>
> For anyone that's interested ... Here the two previous
> Postings I made about this problem.
>
> Archive Links:
>
> Engine overheating - Need Advice
>
> http://tinyurl.com/5zhqh
>
> Update on Engine Overheating Concern
>
> http://tinyurl.com/6bwdl
>
>
> Suggestions on where to go from here would be most welome.
>
> Larry Chase
> www.roadhaus.com
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