Date: Sat, 7 Mar 2009 14:25:45 -0800
Reply-To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject: Re: Heater Hoses
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
reply-type=response
my comments.........
be sure it's not the plastic distribution box.........they like to
disintegrate where the hoses clamp on. ( I get rid of the spring clamps
too.......they are dangerous practically, and can't squeeze well enough
eventually. A high quality screw-clamp you can always check and tighten a
bit. )
I am a huge, huge believer in taking it apart first, find out what all is
tired or broken, THEN order the needed parts.
90 % of the time it's 'more' or 'something else than you thought' after you
get in there if you try to get the right stuff before taking apart and
examining carefully.
The ideal cycle is........take it apart, identify all the bad parts, let the
van sit right there apart while you get the parts, then fix it........
the down time is longer, but there's less time wasted on not getting all the
parts really needed, not seeing the whole real story etc.
The hoses that wear most are the ones that run hottest. On a typical front
engine, front radiator car - that's always the upper radiator hose.
Vanagons and syncro's don't seem to have anything exactly
comparible........I find that pretty much, the main hoses seem to last just
forever, almost.
I even suspect sometimes that what we can get these days, is not as good as
the original stuff. My personal style is to carry some s spares on
trips.......
including a bag of generic hose peices and junctions...........but more or
less, I like the OE stuff and hoses the most, and keep them in service
unless there's a real reason not to.. And there is the 'leave well enogh
alone factor too' ..........so kinda half of one, 6 of the other........and
I strongly do not recommend 'just replace everything' .........just the
stuff that actually is tired or weak.
and the *plastic* ......those parts are weak ones , and they do crumble and
disentigrate with heat and age. Those need to be 'not the origina ones l'
pretty much. Interesting that on the syncro they put on a metal thermostat
housing instead of the plastic one on 2WD vanagons with the 2.1
engine......at least they got that right.
If you trace where the heater hoses actually go under a syncro,
.........it's quite amusing. There's one that goes forward, then across,
then back, or someething like that. If someone sells a true kit of real OE
grade syncro-specific heater hose, that would be nice to install.
I think I'd convert mine to all readily aviable generic high quailtiy heater
hose though.........for easy repair in the future, assuming I could do a
neat and solid job at it.
I know I would sure move the fuel filter !
Scott
www.turbovans.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jon Kanas" <kanas@QADAS.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, March 06, 2009 10:24 PM
Subject: Heater Hoses
> Hello Listers,
>
> Vehicle: 1987 Syncro, 121K Mi.
>
> Weather's nice, so it's time to get the Syncro out and prepare for some
> fun. That being said, I've a coolant leak. There is a wet coolant on
> the heater hose at the rear, immediately over the RR axle. The leak is
> either at the very end of the hose where it couples to the "Distribution
> Unit" (See Bentley, page 19.11, diagram 19-427). It is not readily
> apparent which component is leaking.
>
> Question 1: Is the "Distribution Unit" sufficiently trouble prone to
> justify more extensive diagnostics, or would one proceed on the
> assumption that the hose is at fault.
>
> Question 2: The heater hoses feel soft, and have never been replaced.
> What is the list's collective list experience with the lifetime of
> Vanagon heater hoses.
>
> Question 3: I am thinking about replacing all of the heater hoses. I'd
> appreciate recommendations for "kits" from any of the list vendors which
> are complete, with good quality components. I reviewed the archives,
> and understand that there are some nuances to the heater hose sizes that
> encourage me to want to purchase a complete kit, if possible.
>
> Question 4: A couple of years ago, I had a leak from one of the
> itty-bitty coolant hoses at the oil cooler. I've replaced both of
> these. Given that one of these failed, and now the heater hose(s) are
> suspect, should I be thinking about replacing the big coolant hoses
> too? They are not nearly as soft as the heater hose(s), but pretty
> pliable.
>
>
> --
>
> *Best Regards,
> Jon B Kanas
> Home: 303-678-0658
> Mobile: 303-746-1785
> Email: kanas@qadas.com <mailto:kanas@qadas.com>
> Website: http://www.qadas.com/~kanas <http://www.qadas.com/%7Ekanas>
> *
| 
