Rob, For starters, the engine should never be operated without the coolant system functional. That mist was the time to shut down and if you couldn't locate and fix the leak and refill the coolant, call the tow truck. The 5 min drive after what you thought was a cooled down engine may have done some damage. Once the coolant is gone, the temp gauge does not function as it is located off the engine. If you get any reading at all, it is due to steam and that means damage is being done. It most likely is just coincidence that something failed after a flush, but when that flush was done, a thorough inspection should have been done including disconnecting the hoses on the long coolant pipes and inspecting the ends of the pipes as that is a common failure item. This is 18 year old van. While there has been talk of complete coolant system replacements, that may not be reasonable due to cost, but maintenance includes thorough inspections and observations of those inspections will determine what needs replacing. Since you are a "non mechanic" type, you really need to get the van to someone who knows Vanagons to give that thing a good inspection. Dennis
-----Original Message----- From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of robertmstewart Sent: Wednesday, April 19, 2006 1:13 AM To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Subject: Silver 88 Wolfsburg with the coolant issue on the highway today... So I am on the highway today, I am doing a steady 55-60mph. As I am driving my co-pilot says something is coming out of the back of the van, a mist, looks clear.... Two seconds later, the temp gauge starts blinking on and off. At that point I am realize that my coolant is gone, and is draining out somewhere. I pull over and sure enough, all gone. I let it cool down then drive 5 min to gas station and pour new coolant in. Being a totally non-mechanic type who always goes to the shop for my van work, I grew concerned with the technical end of what else could be wrong so I called Ken Wilford over at Vanagain.com. In 5 minutes he called me back and talked me through what he thought may be going on, THANK YOU Ken!!!! As it turned out, I poured the coolant in, turned on the engine and it just poured out from the what looked like a hose just in front of the engine, I could see it pouring out onto the pavement from that general area. I can only assume at this point some hose which possibly runs front to back may have a crack in, and possibly that during the last 4 days of driving since I had a coolant flush that either the pressure of the flush equipment plus the last couple of days of driving may have stressed it to much and forced what little crack that was there to burst after 30 minutes of heavy highway speeds? I am going to bring it to my VW guy in Long beach NY and have him look at it. Thanks again, Ken for being there when I needed a little advice. So everyone, what are your thoughts, a hose or a major problem?
Rob NYC/Long Beach, NY 88 Wolfsburg, Silver |
Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of
Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection
will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!
Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com
The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.
Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.