Date: Sun, 29 Jul 2007 16:02:42 -0700
Reply-To: Scott Daniel - Shazam <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel - Shazam <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject: Re: Newbie question: coolant/anti-freeze
In-Reply-To: <699b6e3f0707291505g3777525eh5f995cc9361f11f6@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Using AC is good for the system,
In the winter you should run it now and then to keep the fluids moving and
seals happy.
The only penalty in using it is increased thermal load on the engine and
cooling system, and it burns more fuel.
I don't think you are going to hurt it by using it. There's a pressure
switch so if it's low on fluid the compressor clutch won't engage, pretty
sure.
On coolant temp - running at 40 % on the gauge, or running cooler than
'fully up to temp' is not good.
The temp gauges are 'usually' accurate and reliable......i like to see half
way up, or 50 % on the gauge. Warmer is better, for fuel mileage and engine
life.
Up to a point of course.
On coolant, it calls for 'phosphate free' and you can buy the Autobahn
brand at the VW stealership for about 18 bucks a gallon.
You can also find 'phosphate free' coolant in auto parts stores, or
Wal-Mart, Costco etc. in non-VW brands. Buy quality stuff.
I also don't think it's absolutely critical to run phosphate free a-frz in a
vanagon.
The neglect, and amount of time people leave whatever anti-freeze in them is
a far bigger factor.
Don't mean to scare you, but the stock 'head gasket' system is a joke, and
really, vanagons 'should' just have a good head and head gasket job every
90K miles or so.
Those little cheesy o-rings at top of the barrel.....they just get hard
after a while.
The outer 'water retention' gasket....you can see the edge of on top of the
engine....
They pinch and corrode, and split, the surfaces there get pitted....
I could show you pics of these engines with the heads off after they have 15
years and 100K on them.....the gaskets are all shot to hell.
VW is the ONLY manufacturer that uses this hokey head gasket system.
But one vanagon owner explained how it came about - VW told their engineers
'you have 30 days to come up with a water cooled version of our air-cooled
engine."
Really, it's basically a long stroke, big bore 1600 with water jackets
retrofitted, and fuel injection added.
In any case, I'd find a vanagon specialist, a good one, and have the coolant
changed , right away, and bleed the system properly as well, as part of the
job.
( oh. !...your rear heater....SO MANY VANAGON OWNER'S DON'T KNOW about
this.....
It MUST either have the valve under the rear seat at least half on to keep
coolant circulating, or the rear heater should be disconnected.
LOTS of vanagons have the rear heater water valve closed, the coolant sits
in there and rots out the rear heater core. I've got a new one right here in
stock.....It's not that the rear heater system is so weak, it's not, it's
that people don't understand how to take care of it, and it's few and far
between to find a vanagon tech who knows about this, or cares, or will
explain it to you. I dare say. )
Should be done every two years,< change the coolant > < and bleed the
system properly > and even that isn't enough when there are lots of miles
and years on it.
Sort of like teeth - always going downhill and the best you can do is to
arrest or slow down that process.
And using phosphate free a-frz is better, but not really critical, and sure
is not a panacea of any kind. It's fundamentally flawed and weak design.
In the late 90's people could harass vw enough to get them to pay for head
jobs even though any warranty was expired. Sort of the dirty little secret
VW wish would go away.
( that's why so many vanagon parts are NLA - they are hoping to just forget
about the whole thing - just joking, They are wonderful vehicles, the stock
engine just has this one major weak area. )
congrats on having your new baby in the family.
Very lovable vehicles indeed.
Now if that engine was just a little.......
You know.
( psst - thinking long term, consider a Subaru 2.2 engine, it was made for
vanagons almost )
scott
www.turbovans.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
PB
Sent: Sunday, July 29, 2007 3:06 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Newbie question: coolant/anti-freeze
Got my '90 Westy automatic in April but haven't driven it much until the
past week. I know I've been overly cautious with it - almost afraid to use
the air conditioner, and still haven't used the cruise control, yet.
Yesterday, due to not understanding the instrument panel, I was afraid the
temperature was creeping up towards hot, but checked the manual and found
that a temp gauge needle pointing downward was a good thing. The air
conditioner blows cold air, but it takes a while for the air to get to the
front. I was thinking about getting a small 12 volt fan to "help it out" a
little. What I don't exactly understand is why I feel a cool breeze from
the AC every time I turn or change my speed. Of course all the windows are
closed.
I'd also like to know exactly which coolant/anti-freeze I should get and
keep on hand, as well as which engine oil. I seem to remember about the
coolant being specifically for Vanagons. Is the coolant available at any
auto supply store? I don't want to wait until I actually NEED it and then
have to search all over town for it!
When I got my Westy, I had it checked out by a mechanic, and it passed with
flying colors. I know I'm being overly cautious, but I'd just like to drive
it locally for a while before I take it to the "next level:" camping!
Thanks.
Patti
'90 Westy Automatic
