Date:         Sun, 29 May 2011 17:25:50 -0400
Reply-To:     Edward Maglott <emaglott3@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Edward Maglott <emaglott3@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Proper recovery from coolant loss while driving
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

I've been working on replacing the little hoses on the oil cooler on
my 2.1.  It was time to flush the coolant anyway, so during the
process, I've been driving around with just water in the
system.  drive it around, drain it flush it, repeat, etc.  I had
disconnected the radiator return hose at the rear end of the long
plastic tube.  When I put it back on apparently I did not put the
clamp back on at all.  So I was driving around on a short errand and
got flashing temp light and a trail behind the van in the rear view
mirror.  Pulled over and that hose of course had pushed off.

So, I'm on the side of a quiet street and put the hose back
on.  Expansion tank is empty.  I have 1 gallon of water with
me.  There were gurgling sounds coming from the engine and steam
coming out of the expansion tank.   I didn't want to shock the hot
engine with a bunch of cold water and wasn't sure the best way to get
water back into it.  I poured water in the slowly, waited a while for
the engine to cool down.  Finally I ran the engine for about 5
seconds, waited.  Then 10 seconds, waited.  Finally started it and
let it idle and then I got some gurgling and sputtering into the
expansion tank.  1 gallon was not enough to refill what was lost.  I
was close to home and decided to go for it, driving slowly with the
cap left loose to try to run unpressurized.  I got about 1/4 mile and
came to a stoplight, temp gauge was climbing high so I put it in
neutral and cut the engine.  Pow! the hose blew off again and with
force.  I started the engine for about 10 seconds to get around the
corner off the street.  I found a spigot nearby and was able to
refill the engine slowly, letting it cool again.  Since I had plenty
of water, I was able to get about 3 gallons into it.  No gurgling
this time.  Did the same start the engine for short runs a few times
and then start it and let it idle.  I was now only a couple blocks
from home so got home with no problem.

The expansion tank fills into the pipe that goes from the water pump
to the thermostat housing.  I think based on Ben's handy coolant flow
diagram, that water flows form there into the water jackets, so
filling cold water there would go pretty directly into the
engine?  So what is the wisdom on how to recover on the roadside from
a major coolant loss?

Thanks,
Edward  (hope I didn't hurt my engine)