Date: Fri, 6 Nov 2009 20:44:21 -0600
Reply-To: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Subject: Re: How I filled 1.9 with coolant,
was; Roadside BREAKDOWN...Water Pump Belt
In-Reply-To: <d81c42190911061811u2f701a4eu1d4a578ddac53435@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
I had my van in the shop for a variety of repairs, including replacing
the water pump. The mechanic was supposed to have bled the system. It
was right at dark when I pulled out from the garage, and I sped towards
home ten miles away on a back county road. A few miles out, the coolant
light started blinking. I checked the guages - nothing appeared out of
order. I stopped, popped the rear hatch, popped the engine hatch, and
shined my light in at the Expansion tank. It was low - not empty - just
low enough to cause the warning light to come on. Since I had just come
from the shop, I had extra coolant in the van, so I topped off and
headed for home. A little further down the road the light came on again.
Repeated the routine. Just as I pulled into the driveway - the light
came on again. I jut waited until next day to refill, then I drove back
down to the shop doing the same routine. It didn't seem to have any
negative effect, just so long as I stopped and topped off. When I
reached the town where the shop was - I stopped first for gas before
continuing to the shop. When coming out of the service station , I saw
water coming down from underneath up front. I instantly knew !! The
radiator plug had either not been tightened and was loose, or it fell
out. When I arrived at the shop I told the mechanic what was happening,
and he felt the top of the radiator, then went and felt around in the
muck and water in a drain where the van had been sitting the night
before. . Sure enough - he pulled up the plug. Was he ever chagrined. No
damage done, so no hard feelings. After the plug was installed, and the
reservoir refilled - it ran like a champ, never to have any troubles
again. No light, no gurgles, no hot spells. I deduced that the sustained
hard running at highway speed with the cap off the radiator was
sufficient to blow all the air out of the cooling system. It has worked
fine ever since. It's a good method to remember when stuck out somewhere.
John Rodgers
Clayartist and Moldmaker
88'GL VW Bus Driver
Chelsea, AL
Http://www.moldhaus.com
John Meeks wrote:
> On Fri, Nov 6, 2009 at 8:21 PM, John Rodgers <inua@charter.net> wrote:
>
>
>> Zoltan,
>>
>> While on the subject of topping off coolant - for a 2.1L - you can fill
>> the coolant system, crack the valve on the radiator, then drive down the
>> road until the low coolant warning light comes on. Stop, fill the tank,
>> then drive some more. After two or three stops like that, all the air is
>> out, and you can close the valve, top the tank, and you are good to go.
>> I found this method quite by accident, but it works - for the 2.1L WBX.
>>
>>
>>
> John,
>
> I've gotta ask... How the heck did you discover this technique "by
> accident" ?? Idle minds want to know ;-)
>
> John Meeks
> '91 Multivan
> Northern Michigan
>
> Vanagon Rescue Squad
> http://www.vanagonauts.com/Vanagon_Rescue_Squad74.htm
>
> Radio Call:KC8ZFN
>
>
>
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