Date:         Sun, 5 Jul 2009 11:37:04 -0700
Reply-To:     neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Burps up coolant when parked warm.
Comments: To: Greg Potts <greg@pottsfamily.ca>
In-Reply-To:  <4A50DC47.6030204@pottsfamily.ca>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

On Sun, Jul 5, 2009 at 10:00 AM, Greg Potts<greg@pottsfamily.ca> wrote:
> Hi Volks,
>
> Ever since I have installed the replacement 1.9 engine in my 87
> wolfsburg it's been running great. But...
>
> Once or twice a week, after running 15 minutes or more, I hear a great
> deal of gurgling from the engine compartment, usually followed by a gush
> of a liter or so of coolant.
>
> What would be causing this? Air in the rad? Bad coolant resevoir cap?
>
> The temp gauge needle consistently sits on the top edge of the LED, and
> doesn't move from that spot unless I am stuck in traffic, where it might
> rise a needle-width or so before the rad fan comes on.
>
> Another thing I noticed recently... If I am parked in the sun then I
> notice that the rad fan will come on at low speed as soon as I start the
> ignition. This only happens when the front of the bus is warm though; it
> never happens in early morning or at night.
>

Hi Greg.

I recalled that Michael (aka Mr. Squirrel) had a similar issue.
(search "....making coolant....") This from Ken Wilford on checking
the cap:

-------

"Your expansion tank cap is probably bad and not holding pressure.  Take
it off and try sucking through it (clean the coolant off first).  If you
can easily suck on it then it is toast and needs to be replaced.  Many
are in the condition and folks just don't know.  It is important that
they hold pressure because if not then the boiling point of your coolant
is lower than it should be so it will overheat easier."

--------

As for the rad fan, do you have access to a IR thermometer? Can't
imagine that the sunlight alone would be enough to heat up the rad but
maybe.....

Neil.


--
Neil Nicholson '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"

http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/

http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines