Date: Sun, 12 Dec 2010 18:45:00 -0500
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Overheating/preservation question.
In-Reply-To: <AANLkTimOJyS1ASDA95SiR2+yO_sDJ0Pixf+QNb0kfvcD@mail.gmail.com>
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Heating the engine as such the thermostat housing is the least of your
problems. You possibly missed the low coolant light or it is not working.
The light blinking at start up really only tests the bulb. You need to
occasionally pull the plug from the sensor to make sure the indicator works.
The sensor itself is just two probes. It never goes bad except for the plug
to crack and leak.
As the coolant drops and the light comes on, the lack of coolant will soon
make steam. The antifreeze laden steam and boiling gurgling coolant can
trick the sensor and turn the light back off. With no proper water flow the
gauge will no longer tell that something is wrong.
The smoke was the last notice time to stop now. Continued driving may prove
to be costly. This is a trauma and the engine may never be the same again.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
DW
Sent: Sunday, December 12, 2010 5:29 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Overheating/preservation question.
Over the Thanksgiving weekend we were heading to Vancouver, B.C. from
Seattle. Just south of Everett, I noted some extra "smoke" coming out of the
back end of the van (1991 Multivan). I slowed down and moved over to the
right hand lane and doing so appeared to have quell what was going on. I
drove for a few minutes and watched the temperature gauge move up a little.
There was no indication of a fall in the coolant level (no indicator light
went on). I put on the heater and it was blowing cold air. I became
concerned and then the oil pressure light came on with the buzzer. I
immediately pull over and shut off the van. Steam blew forward in front of
the van from the rear engine compartment. I checked the coolant expansion
tank and it was bone dry! The oil level in the engine however appeared fine.
I had the van towed to Zoltan and it is now clear that the head gasket was
blown. In addition the thermostat housing was severely melted. I plan on
replacing the thermostat housing and due to my love of my van, I plan on
replacing with the best possible part (i.e., non-melting aluminum). There
are two options I have considered: the GoWesty version
(GoWesty<http://www.gowesty.com/ec_view_details.php?id=23281&category_id=79&
category_parent_id=>)
and the VanCafe version
(VanCafe<http://www.van-cafe.com/home/van_1292123629253/page_1191>).
Does anyone have any opinions on these?
I am fully aware that many of you may have opinions on my decision making
process because I did not immediately pull off the road, but please be
sensitive to my emotional status -- I have a van that needs significant
attention. This does lead to my other question; what should I do about the
fact that the coolant level sensor did not respond as it has in the past? I
have purchased another sensor, but are there other things that I should also
have checked or replaced? I want the cooling system to be the best it can so
I am going to replace all coolant hoses and the radiator. I am trying to do
the most I can with the budget I have while the engine is out. I really want
to be aware of a fall in the coolant level in the future and I would be
really thankful if you might provide any sage advice on this issue or others
to consider.
Thanks,
DW