Date:         Mon, 23 May 2005 16:31:51 -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?
Comments: To: Don in North Carolina <Don_Dixon@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"

When the sensor reads temperature it doesn't know if its moisture, dry or
steam. It just reads the temperature that it reaches.
You could possibly better yourself by having more than one temperature
sensor.
In almost every case of overheating there is a 'magic moment' when the
sensor is reading water then steam and you're alerted to a problem but you
still only have a few minutes before serious overheating happens.
Unless you just blow a hose and have a full dump routine of coolant you
should have a few minutes to react.
Having two sensors would cause some confusion but would be useful if one of
them reached out, slapped your face and said "wake up dummy".

Stan Wilder
Engine Ceramics
214-352-4931
www.engineceramics.com


----- Original Message -----
From: "Don in North Carolina" <Don_Dixon@BELLSOUTH.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, May 23, 2005 4:07 PM
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!
>
> Don in Reidsville, NC
> 1986 Kawasaki Concours
> 1988 Vanagon GL (Sylvia)
> "I reject your reality and substitute my own." - Adam Savage
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Joy Hecht" <jhecht@ALUM.MIT.EDU>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Mon 23 May 2005 16:39
> Subject: Re: Joy Hecht's problem's solved?
>
>
> > Moving it lower would not help matters.  What seems needed is a sensor
> > that detects when it hits air instead of coolant, and buzzes as soon as
> > that happens.  Buzzes, not flashes.  When you have no particular reason
to
> > expect coolant loss, you can't do all your driving watching the light
just
> > in case it flashes.  Mine may have flashed before it buzzed, but if it
did
> > I certainly didn't notice it.  I stopped as soon as I heard the buzzer,
> > but by then it was too late.
> >
> >
> > Joy
> >
> > ****************************************************************
> > Joy Hecht
> > and Matilda, 1989 Burgundy Vanagon
> >
> > For musings about life and the vanadventures:
> > http://users.rcn.com/jhecht/gypsy
> >
> >
****************************************************************:::-----Orig
inal
> > Message-----
> > :::From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On
Behalf
> > :::Of Tim Demarest
> > :::Sent: Monday, May 23, 2005 4:25 PM
> > :::To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > :::Subject: Re: Joy Hecht's problem's solved?
> > :::
> > :::Hmm... sounds like a side-effect of the temp sensor being located
near
> > :::the
> > :::top of the coolant system (where there will be nothing but air if you
> > :::dump
> > :::the coolant). Is there any benefit to moving the sensor to a lower
> > point
> > :::in
> > :::the system?
> > :::
> > :::The light should flash as soon as the coolant level sensor hits
nothing
> > :::but
> > :::air... so if that starts flashing, I'm pulling over!
> > :::
> > :::At 12:30 PM 5/23/2005 -0400, Don in North Carolina wrote:
> > :::>The coolant tank level sensor is supposed to warn you of this issue,
> > but
> > :::in
> > :::>my experience it doesn't work very well at this - be warned!
> >
>
>
> --
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