Date: Thu, 8 Sep 2011 18:20:25 -0700
Reply-To: HotelWestfalia <zolo@FOXINTERNET.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: HotelWestfalia <zolo@FOXINTERNET.NET>
Subject: Re: Problem with 1991 Vanagon cooling system
In-Reply-To: <CAFnDXk053GuM73RWr6GoyjdFLmr_W_R+XyAPfb+b4rLWe86P0Q@mail.gmail.com>
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The way I fix the plastic pipe troubles, I take all the hoses off from both
ends and once I got the brass pipe back into it, I drive a small screw in on
the side. Sometimes two of them and push the hose over it then put the
clamp behind it. This way the little pipe can't slide out and you don't
have to buy expensive pipes, remove the old one and install the new that may
have the same trouble later. This will last forever, I guess.
Zoltan
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Felder" <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, September 08, 2011 6:05 PM
Subject: Problem with 1991 Vanagon cooling system
>I am no stranger to Vanagon 2.1 cooling problems, but I could use some
> opinions as how to proceed with my daughter's 1991 GL.
>
> She let it get low on coolant a year or so ago (weird leaks, she has
> actually taken pretty good care of the car). But in a year and a half or
> so,
> it is split two primary coolant bottles, popped a hose or two, blew a
> chunk
> out of the rear heater valve housing, and blown the big bottom hose off
> its
> plastic pipe. There have always been other explanations as to these
> blowouts
> and such, but as always those can be rationalizations as much as
> explanations.
>
> It is the plastic pipe problem that I have been dealing with lately. Some
> time ago the metal end pulled out of the pipe. I did what I have always
> successfully done which is to epoxy it back in and never think about it
> again. But today she was driving and it popped loose and drained all the
> coolant. She refilled with water and got to my house and I put in an epoxy
> lip around the end of the plastic pipe as I had done many years ago on a
> 1990, and never had another issue with it. I actually did a better job on
> hers than I did on my Carat, yet the hose blew off with the epoxy lip
> minutes after startup.
>
> I suspect that I have a leaking head gasket overpressurizing the system,
> but
> there are no other symptoms suggesting it. I have not kept coolant in it
> recently long enough to tell exhaust gases are dirtying the coolant and I
> have not done the overnight cooldown test where you start it up and run it
> for 30 seconds to see if that puts pressure into the coolant system.
>
> I am going to try this weekend making a wire lip that sits in a groove
> that
> I will dremel into the end of the plastic pipe and see if that holds by
> sheer mechanical force.
>
> Any other suggestions? I especially want to hear from anyone who has
> converted to coolant hose to replace the plastic pipe and has details to
> share.
>
> Jim
>
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