Date:         Mon, 24 Aug 2009 17:04:43 -0400
Reply-To:     mcneely4@COX.NET
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
Subject:      Re: rear heater blowout - stranded
Comments: To: Matthew Snook <matt@SNOOKSBAND.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed; delsp=no

I have the rear heater removed from, and a pipe fitted to the hoses to 
connect one to the other.  I'm not limping.  Dave Mc


On Mon, Aug 24, 2009 at 3:36 PM , Matthew Snook wrote:

> OK, I'm having an adventure...
>
> '84 Westy 1.9
> Currently parked roadside at Whitehorse Campground, Umpqua National 
> Forest
> (that's Oregon) on highway 138
>
> Pulling the hill eastbound the temperature was running high but not
> critical, when I started smelling antifreeze.  As I started making 
> plans to
> pull the rear heater after I got home to Rocky Point (Klamath County) 
> a
> gusher erupted under the rear bench seat, steaming all of my clothing 
> and
> stranding me over a pool of coolant.  For now, I hope.  I passed the 
> 3500
> foot mark, so I have another 1500-2000 ft climb before I'm on the 
> downhill
> to Klamath Lake. :(
>
> I took the rear heater cover off, restarted the engine, and soon water 
> and
> steam was coming from somewhere inside the heater unit.  I can't see 
> the
> leak directly.  I tried setting the little lever on the passenger side 
> of
> the unit back and forth, but it didn't seem to affect the output.
> My Bentley doesn't say which of the hoses is supply or return, upper 
> or
> lower.
> Question: can I disconnect both hoses, clamp a stick in there to block 
> the
> openings, and limp back home that way?  Will there still be adequate 
> flow of
> coolant through the rest of the system?
>
> Matt
>
> Matthew Snook
> matt@snooksband.com
> 541.805.5133
> -----------------------------
> 2201 Cedar Street
> La Grande OR 97850
>