Date:         Tue, 29 Mar 2005 10:17:05 -0500
Reply-To:     Benny boy <huotb@VIDEOTRON.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Benny boy <huotb@VIDEOTRON.CA>
Subject:      Re: Cooling system maintenance
Comments: To: Don Dixon <Don_Dixon@BELLSOUTH.NET>

Ok, fist thing to everyone on the list....that Expansion Tank is always
cracked, always at the same place, rear of cap!!!! kind of funny, i never
saw an old tank that wasn't cracke. Another thing about that tnak, it should
always be full...by that i mean: if the cap is working properly, it will
suck coolant in the refill tank...if the expension tank is 3/4 and you have
coolant in the refill, there is 4 reason:
-Bad cap
-Crack too big in EX-tank
-Leak in system
-Line between the 2 tank is blocked

So, if you change the tank...change the cap, 2 possibility are gone

The Vanagon will work pretty good with a NONE fully pressurize system, if
the pressure is bellow 4 pounds (Normal about 7-9) you won't see it in the
front.

changing the water pump as a preventative measure, DO IT, all engine i see
have somewhat good pump...but!!!!! when i remove this one for prevention:
here is what i see: a dammage mating surface due to coroded inmpeller!!!!!
or a slight slack in the pump itself...so for 60$, change that pump, YOU
CANNOT CHANGE THE CORE MATING SURFACE.

_________________________________________________________________
Now that the Syncro is gone (but not forgotten) I am turning my attention to
my '88 GL. There is a minor leak in the cooling system expansion tank (small
crack) so I am going to replace that along with it's associated hoses. At
the same time, I am going to replace all of the belts.

I have the belts off and the old tank out, and wondered if now would be a
good time to also change the water pump and thermostat. The van runs warmer
than the '87 Syncro did, it normally runs about a needle width or so above
the LED. I was thinking about changing the thermostat to try and lower this
temp (in case it isn't fully opening) and wondered about changing the water
pump as a preventative measure. The thought here is that if the water pump
isn't providing the proper flow, it could increase the temperature. I have
no history on this van's maintenance up to this point. Water pump turns
smoothly, there doesn't appear to be any appreciable play in the shaft
(radial or axial). No leaks from the tell tale. Change it or leave well
enough alone?

So far, the only coolant I have drained is from the expansion tank and the
overflow tank, how much more would I need to drain to change the thermostat
and/or water pump? The Bentley just has instructions on draining ALL of the
coolant, and I can't do that because I won't have anywhere to dispose of it
(before we get into the "pour it into the toilet" argument, my house is on a
septic tank - no can do!).

What is the WOTL on this???