Date: Mon, 23 May 2005 17:14:05 -0500
Reply-To: Stan Wilder <wilden1-1@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Stan Wilder <wilden1-1@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Subject: Re: Joy Hecht's problem's solved?
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I always pride myself on being ready for anything when I travel.
I carry spare parts, extra cash, contact information for assistance and a
nice big fire extinguisher.
I quit blowing my $30.00 fire extinguisher out on helping people with
automotive fires. Out of three times I put out fires along the highway or
freeway nobody even bothered to say thanks.
So if you see me standing there watching your car on fire you will know what
I'm thinking ............ "Looks like you got an insurance problem there,
buddy".
Stan Wilder
Engine Ceramics
214-352-4931
www.engineceramics.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Joy Hecht" <jhecht@ALUM.MIT.EDU>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, May 23, 2005 4:38 PM
Subject: Re: Joy Hecht's problem's solved?
>
> :::-----Original Message-----
> :::From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf
> :::Of Don in North Carolina
> :::Sent: Monday, May 23, 2005 5:08 PM
> :::To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> :::Subject: Re: Joy Hecht's problem's solved?
> :::
> :::I have been thinking about installing a coolant pressure gauge or
warning
> :::system because of this. When my coolant hose going from the left head
to
> :::the coolant manifold split, the first indication of a problem was the
> :::steam
> :::coming out of the vents by the rear window. My coolant temp gauge
never
> :::went above 3/4, no flashing light or buzzer. But the expansion and
> :::overflow
> :::tanks were dry...
> :::
> :::If you have a slow leak, the expansion tank level sensor works to
> :::indicate a
> :::problem, but in a catastrophic coolant loss, it's too slow to respond.
I
> :::just happened to luck out, as the coolant hose on my '88 split just as
I
> :::was
> :::pulling into my driveway - low speed make a high steam effect! Could
be
> :::worse, my first thought when I saw the smoke (steam) was a fire! I was
> :::strangely happy when I smelled the coolant, I'll tell you!
>
> Me too! After I pulled into the shoulder and saw clouds behind my van, I
wasn't sure if it was dust or coolant or smoke. I jumped out of my van and
was just thinking about how to operate my fire extinguisher when I realized
it was coolant.
>
> Other people didn't, though! Within a minute or so a man pulled up in
front of me, introduced himself as an off-duty fireman, and offered help. A
minute or two later a fire engine pulled up, sirens blaring - someone had
seen me, reacted fast, and called 911. They emerged with gas masks on, and
we kind of laughed at them, since it was just steam. The state police
pulled up within another minute or so too.
>
> Nice to know that reaction times in northern Indiana are so quick! And an
overheated engine is nothing compared to a fire.
>
> Don, if you design a coolant pressure gauge or warning system of some
sort, please tell me about it! I might be interested. Don't want to blow
out my new engine too.
>
> FWIW, I had an inch-long break in the coolant hose that went, due to rot
around a clamp. I assume the leak was very fast, not gradual.
>
>
>
> Joy
>
>
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