Date:         Sun, 5 Oct 2008 14:37:24 -0700
Reply-To:     Joel Cort <joel_cort@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Joel Cort <joel_cort@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: Mysterious Coolant Drip  2.1
Comments: To: Allan Streib <streib@cs.indiana.edu>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

Allan,
You are correct this pipe could be the source of a leak.  In this case I did not think of it because it was mentioned that the leak was at the oil cooler.

Every single one of those pipes that I have dickered with is either leaking or getting ready to leak from that Y connection.

I have had great success with JB Weld on that little Y connection on the metal pipe.

I usually take that tube out, when doing a water pump and go ahead and sand that area down and give a JB Weld as good preventitive maintenance. 

I then repaint the area and the entire pipe with rust resistant paint and then undercoat that pipe.  That pipe gets a lot of overspray from the wheels when driving in the wet / snowy roads.
 Joel - mechanic extraordinaire - Still in training. 

Rochester NY.

89 Syncro Westy (CinnabarVan)
87 Syncro Transporter (Stella)
73 Westy Campmobile (agent orange)


Founding Member of the Empire VW Camping Club
&
Westies at Watkins - www.westies-at-watkins.org 



----- Original Message ----
From: Allan Streib <streib@cs.indiana.edu>
To: Joel Cort <joel_cort@YAHOO.COM>
Cc: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Sent: Sunday, October 5, 2008 12:47:17 PM
Subject: Re: Mysterious Coolant Drip 2.1

I noticed a leak on the pipe on the left (drivers) side of the engine in
my van.  This is a large pipe that runs from the thermostat housing back
around the left side of the engine.  There's a "tee" in it (more like a
wye), where a smaller tube runs off to I believe the under-seat rear
heat exchanger.

Anyway -- I have a pinhole leak at that junction, and it looks like it's
either been welded or brazed already -- poorly.  There is a huge globby
pile of filler metal surrounding the joint, and there's a drop of
coolant clinging to the pipe at that location.

My plan is, when I next change coolant, to remove that pipe and either
try to make a better repair, or just replace it.  Anyone happen to have
one in good condition?

Allan
-- 
1991 Vanagon GL