Date: Fri, 9 Sep 2005 04:33:24 -0400
Reply-To: Ken Wilford <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Ken Wilford <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: How to tell a radiator is bad
In-Reply-To: <BAY104-F34BB41F1217B7DC36459DBB3980@phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
I found a surefire way to find out if a radiator is bad. Get either an
infrared heat gun or some type of thermostat for measuring the heat of
the coolant hoses. Now, when the van is warmed up measure the
temperature of the hose going to the radiator and the hose coming back
from the radiator. The one coming back should be about 10 degrees F
cooler (at least). If the temperatures are the same or similar then the
radiator is bad (plugged) and needs to be replaced.
Last van I checked this way the radiator looked like it was full of mud
and it weighed 10 lbs more than the new one (both aluminum).
Hope this helps,
Ken Wilford
John 3:16
www.vanagain.com
John Smith wrote:
> 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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