Date: Wed, 23 Aug 2006 17:14:06 -0400
Reply-To: Kenneth Wilford <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Kenneth Wilford <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: overheating & radiators
In-Reply-To: <000b01c6c6e5$e26973d0$14e251d8@ceclac.local>
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When I looked into this about a year ago I had a customer with a 1990
Vanagon. He swore up and down that his radiator was good but the van was
running hot (about 3/4 on the gauge). I have an infrared heat gun (which
you can now get pretty cheap). I checked to see if the heads were cracked
with a chemical block leak tester and they came out fine. Then I checked
the two hoses that go to and from the radiator. This was after the van was
warmed up and the thermostat was open. They were reading about the same
temperature. In fact the 2.1l has a hose that goes across the top of the
transmission bellhousing that is a bypass of the radiator. It bypasses
normally when the thermostat is still closed to help the engine warm up.
When the thermostat is open the coolant should go up to the radiator. When
the radiator becomes plugged this hose is just constantly bypassing the
coolant and that is why the engine just keeps warming up and warming up. My
final diagnosis was that if the two main hoses that go to the radiator (feed
and return) were running at about the same temperature then the radiator was
plugged up. If the return hose is about twenty degrees cooler then the
radiator is working properly. This is a pretty good test to know before
plopping down the money for a new radiator. I have them in stock if anyone
needs one.
Thanks,
Ken Wilford
John 3:16
http://www.vanagain.com
http://www.strictlyvwauctions.com
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http://www.vwcabrio.org
Phone: (856)-327-4936
Fax: (856)-327-2242
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Jamie Foust
Sent: Wednesday, August 23, 2006 2:57 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: overheating & radiators
Date: Wed, 23 Aug 2006 08:04:02 -0700
From: Loren Busch <starwagen@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Behr Radiators
Ken wrote: I will say that I am coming to think that the radiator is a much
overlooked source of badness in the Vanagon cooling system.
I want to post a strong Second to Kens comments on the Vanagon radiator. I
fought cooling problems in an '85 for years, to the point it cost an engine.
New engine in, instant overheat. New radiator, ran perfect. The local
'experts' (none on this list) kept telling me "Head gaskets", my common
sense kept saying "Radiator" but I deferred to the 'experts' and it cost me
an engine. If you Vangon acts like the cooling system just can't get rid of
the heat being generated but all else is well (no leaks, system bled
properly) then replace the radiator!
Could you tell me some symptoms of your overheating and radiator issues. I'm
getting ready to pull my motor to do head gaskets because of overheating
issues and air in the coolant system. I can't seem to verify leaking head
gaskets. Is it possible that the coolant is boiling around the head because
of a clogged radiator? I planned on replacing the radiator anyway.I'm just
wondering if I should do that first, and then wait and see what the verdict
is.
Thanks,
jamie
