Date: Thu, 8 Sep 2005 22:08:56 -0700
Reply-To: turbodieseltrooper <turbodieseltrooper@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: turbodieseltrooper <turbodieseltrooper@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Subject: Re: update on overheating issues (by request)
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
reply-type=response
There is a tester on the market that can detect the presence of exhaust
gases in the cooling system. These gases are an indicator of a leaking or
"blown" head gasket. It's available from your friendly Snap-On dealer. You
basically place a test chamber, filled with test fluid, over the radiator
cap opening to your cooling system. Air is drawn thru the test chamber via
a squeeze bulb, if the test fluid changes color (blue to green) then you
have a leak from combustion chamber to the cooling system. You can now go
back to the rebuilder with concrete proof. Heck, you can perform the test
front of him.
Saves you from spending time in a traffic jam or jail time for stealing an
infrared temp sensor.
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Smith" <johns3539@HOTMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, September 08, 2005 8:28 PM
Subject: update on overheating issues (by request)
> Hi Folks,
>
> By request, here=92s an update on the =93overheating issues=94 I reported
> y=
> esterday. To start the investigation, I warmed up the engine and
> double-ch=
> ecked that the coolant system was bled correctly by slowly unscrewing the
> r=
> adiator bleeder nut. No hissing air, just a bit of coolant that dribbled
> o=
> ut. Next, while the engine was warm, I opened up the front and rear
> heater=
> valves and turned the fans up to high. The Temp went from about 1/2 to
> al=
> most 1/4. Then, I checked the oil filler cap for foam=85 nothing there.
> I=
> would also like to do a dye test, but ignorant ol=92 me don=92t know
> nothi=
> ng about that, and I couldn=92t find it in the archives=85 can someone
> tell=
> me what this is exactly and where you get the materials to do such a
> thing=
> ?
>
> By the way, there was no coolant bubbling out of the overflow cap in the
> ti=
> me I was doing the testing. So far, I'm hoping these tests lead to the
> con=
> clusion that the thermostat and/or radiator need replacing. =20
>
> Thanks so much for your help and suggestions.
>
> Best,
>
> John
> 91 Westy
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
> Of John Smith
> Sent: Wednesday, September 07, 2005 11:58 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: overheating issues
>
> Hi Folks,
>
> I've got a 91 Westy with about 5k on a rebuilt engine from NW Connecting
> Rod
> in Seattle. Everything is running great, except for a mild overheating
> problem. I say mild because nothing has blown up or seized yet, and I
> haven't encountered massive amounts of steam or smoke coming from the
> engine
> compartment. Here's what's happening:
>
> During normal conditions in the last 750 miles or so, the temp gauge is
> running at about 5/8. When I use the A/C, the temp gauge goes up to
> =EF=BF=
> =BD,
> and
> the light begins to blink. Same thing happens when I'm climbing steep
> hills, or in heavy stop-and-go traffic (The good thing is that the fan
> seems
> to be turning on normally when it reaches this level). When I pull
> over,
> let it cool down and inspect the van, occasionally I'll see the overfill
> tank bubbling out very light amounts of coolant. I've also taken off
> the
> grill and felt around my radiator for any cool spots, which I did not
> find.
>
> I should also mention that the temp light will sometimes start blinking
> under normal conditions as well, meaning that the temp gauge is at about
> =EF=BF=BD,
> driving on a flat road.
>
> I recently took the van into the shop for a coolant system inspection.
> There was a small coolant hose that needed to be replaced, which they
> took
> care of. After that they replaced the coolant, bled the system and
> pressure
> tested it- all came back normal, but it's still behaving in the same
> manner.
>
> From searching the archives, I know that this could be caused by a
> number of
> things, including the water pump, thermostat, and radiator, and god
> forbid,
> leaking head gaskets. But here's what else I know:
>
> *The fan switch and sensor have all been replaced very recently. It
> doesn't
> seem like I'm having any trouble in this department.
>
> *A good portion of the cooling system hoses have also recently been
> replaced, although the radiator has not.
>
> *The 80 degree Thermostat and water pump were replaced 5k ago when the
> rebuilt engine was put in, although I suppose these could be faulty.
>
> The only thing I can tell from all of these observations is that the
> coolant
> sensor is going bad, but from what I've read, that's rarely the case.
> I've
> also thought of the worst case scenario where the head gaskets need to
> be
> redone, and I have to go back to NW Connecting Rod and tell them to live
> up
> to their 12k warranty. Before I go this far, though, does anyone have
> any
> ideas on what else to check or remedy? Thanks in advance.
>
> Cheers,
>
> John
> 91 Westy
>
> ------------------------------
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