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Date:         Sat, 5 Sep 2009 11:15:00 -0400
Reply-To:     Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: leaking coolant - reservoir cap failure?
Comments: To: Todd Guttman <tgguttman@ATT.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <265359.23095.qm@web83905.mail.sp1.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Yes, the caps go bad. The pressure relief will fail, the gasket will fail. Pressure testing of the cap needs to be done on regular bases. Operation with a bad cap will eventually cause problems including poor internal engine cooling. The coolant needs to be pressurized to maintain contact with the internal surfaces. The cap should really be replaced after any cooling system failure. They are cheap enough to carry a spare.

Dennis

-----Original Message----- From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Todd Guttman Sent: Wednesday, September 02, 2009 5:22 PM To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Subject: leaking coolant - reservoir cap failure?

Group,

A simple but hopefully not-too-stupid question.  After years of fairly trouble-free duty by our 85 Westy's cooling system (except for the p-i-t-a annual drain, refill, point-to-the-sky, top-off and repeat process), it is leaking coolant - specifically around the cap of the coolant reservoir. 

The cap is on tight. Also, coolant placed in the overflow tank when the engine is cold appears to be getting sucked back up to the reservoir tank. The overflow tank has been empty, however, when the leak occurs - after the engine temperature has gone past the mid-line of the temperature gauge from extended idling.

The question: do the reservoir caps simply go bad and the two-way valve in the cap stops directing coolant to the overflow tank behind the license plate? 

All comments, guesses and opinions are greatly appreciated!

Todd Columbus, Ohio 85 Westy (Rivendel)


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