Date: Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:11:21 -0500
Reply-To: greg@POTTSFAMILY.CA
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Greg Potts <greg@POTTSFAMILY.CA>
Subject: Re: 2.1 Cooling System Oddity: Since we are on the topic of
coolant issues. (kinda long)
In-Reply-To: <c803c1a70912160829x46104f0u17bee71c91297baf@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain;charset=iso-8859-1
Hi Jeff,
Frank Condelli and I explored a similar problem on my van back in October.
I had thought it was the cap but even after replacement of the cap and the
coolant level sender I still had a drip going on.
It turned out to be a crack in the coolant tank. I had to completely
remove the tank in order to see the crack. Since I put the new tank in the
system has been fine, at least until the hose popped last week.
Greg
> OK, gang here is a strange one - and I may not have enough info yet for
> anyone to really answer thins - but maybe someone has experienced this
> before.
>
> We just took the bus for it's longest trip to date with the new engine -
> roughly 400miles round trip. It ran great and we didn't have any real
> issues
> - I don't think.
>
> When we got to our destination, Patty had gone into somewhere while I
> waited
> - engine idling - It being a new to me engine I decided to get out and
> take
> a look and see that we weren't having any leaks or anything.
>
> Well, much to my surprise there was coolant leaking - it was coming down
> from the fill tank area (not the one behind the license plate) - and
> dripping onto the exhaust where the J-pipe meets the Cat. Not a gushing
> leak
> but more than a drip. Panic set in and I turned off the engine.
>
> I opened the engine lid to look and couldn't find where the leak came from
> -
> hoses to the tank all good - no wetness areound the cap (which is brand
> new).
>
> Gauge didn't go hot and warning light never blonked (they both work). So
> being just a couple miles from our friends house I decided to get there
> and
> keep a close eye on things (go ahead flame me).
>
> The next morning my friends and I (all more Vanagon savy than I am) fired
> up
> my bus and let it idle until it got up to temp. No leak - nothing -
> nothing
> at all. I did have to add a bit of coolant to the overflow tank (behind
> the
> license plate) but it wasn't empty either - main tank was fine as far as
> level goes).
>
> So we tentativley headed home. I kept a close eye on things - temp was
> good
> all the way home - no warning light - no leak at all.
>
> Monday, on my way home from work I had to stop (close to home) and left
> the
> bus running while I ran in somewhere. Came out and the leak was back. (no
> over heating or warning light). Turned it off. Decided once again to head
> home (again flame me if you must). When I got home I left it running and
> got
> out to inspect - no leak.
>
> The only other symptom is the heat is weak up front - but great in the
> back.
> No leaking from the engine - no coolant in the oil.
>
> So what the heck is going on? I cannot find where it is leaking from but
> it
> is definitely coming from the main tank area - again none of the hoses or
> the cap appear to be the problem.
>
> If the tank was cracked couldn't I expect to see a leak all the time. I'm
> so
> confused. I guess m6y next step is to follow the video Ben just posted and
> see what happens.
>
>
>
> --
> Thanks,
>
> Jeff
> '90 Carat (Grover)
> '86 (We call this one Parts)
> '78 Bus (Melissa) Patty's Bus
>
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