Date: Mon, 9 Jul 2012 19:07:55 -0500
Reply-To: mcneely4@COX.NET
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
Subject: Re: Recommendations, anyone?
In-Reply-To: <CA+n284N0TuwmjY2BHp+qkeA_LHuSnZez_kWSD7GQrFoGTt+Ucg@mail.gmail.com>
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Well, wiser heads than mine have said this should be done. He is taking his family on the road in this beast. Now, granted he may not be going on back country roads like I do. But coolant hoses fail. New ones fail less than old ones. It really is common, not just in Vanagons, but in any vehicle that has old hoses. When you buy an old vehicle like this, you don't know when the hoses were done. Do it once, and you're done for a while. mcneely
---- pickle vanagon <greenvanagon@gmail.com> wrote:
> I'm just going to voice a little friendly disagreement.
>
> I think it should not be considered necessary for every vanagon owner to
> replace all of their coolant hoses before driving everywhere.
>
> It is quite expensive to do so. And do the hoses really fail that often?
> I wouldn't be surprised if head gaskets blow more often than hoses which
> have not been recently disturbed. And surely we aren't going to tell him
> to do his head gaskets preventively before going anywhere.
>
> For most of us vanagon repairs have to be prioritized. I would prioritize
> replacing a radiator before replacing "all coolant lines" and the radiator
> is a lot cheaper.
>
> Fuel lines are another matter. Yes we should all do our fuel lines.
> Should he skip a trip this weekend until they are done?
> Maybe.... The point of doing fuel lines is to minimize the probability of
> catastrophic failure. I don't think skipping one trip while he gets his
> ducks in a row is going to change that small probability that much. He can
> always do a quick check for any obvious leaks before leaving. And carry a
> fire extinguisher! (really!)
>
>
> I do carry one of these emergency hose kits in our van:
> http://www.amazon.com/Victor-RADIATOR-HOSE-REPAIR-KIT/dp/B001B58ZPK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1341875892&sr=8-1&keywords=emergency+radiator+hose+kit
>
> Although, in more than 10 years of driving these vans, I have never
> replaced a coolant hose, and never had one fail. Do make sure your
> coolant level sensor is functional.
>
>
> On Mon, Jul 9, 2012 at 11:19 AM, Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@cox.net> wrote:
>
> > Gab, two things to do for certain before going on any trips: Replace all
> > the coolant hoses, and all the fuel hoses. When you replace the fuel
> > hoses, make sure you eliminate the connector at the front engine bulkhead
> > (firewall). The hoses, and particularly that plastic connector, if not
> > known to have been replaced, are a fire in the making. They are 26-27
> > years old. The same is true of the coolant hoses. Though they won't start
> > a fire, they will stop you, absolutely, and damage your engine if they
> > fail. At the same time, replace plastic parts in the cooling system.
> >
> >
--
David McNeely
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