Date:         Wed, 19 Apr 2006 01:12:54 -0400
Reply-To:     robertmstewart <robertmstewart@MAC.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         robertmstewart <robertmstewart@MAC.COM>
Subject:      Silver 88 Wolfsburg with the coolant issue on the highway today...
Comments: cc: Kenneth Wilford <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

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