Date: Tue, 23 Oct 2012 12:32:47 -0800
Reply-To: Mark Tuovinen <aksyncronaut@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Mark Tuovinen <aksyncronaut@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: What to keep on hand to not be stranded
In-Reply-To: <5086C9C8.80601@flatsurface.com>
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Ken is correct on preventative maintenance of course and many do not do any
or if some not enough. We normally only use our van during the Summer as I
do not want it ruined by our Winter weather and drivers. That said it gets
a full once over any any needed items dealt with every Spring and again
before any longer road trips, ie those over a few hundred miles or extended
time away from home. last Winters trip was unusual for us as it involved
shipping our van to Daryl in Duvall where it was stored until we picked it
up in mid-December for a 30 tour of the Southwest before returning it to
Daryl's to await Spring and the drive home. Before each journey it is
inspected, fluids changed, repairs/maintenance performed as needed. The 30
day trip covered approximately 6,000 miles and the drive home another
3,500. The preventable issue was the oil cooler o'ring that failed when
the transport company started the van here in November in -20F temperatures
without first warming the engine up. They did have a Reddy heater but did
not use it and 20W50 oil does not like the cold even if it is synthetic.
The hose that ruptured may or may not have been preventable it was
inspected twice prior to the trip and again at Van-Cafe on December
19th and all times deemed to be good. The Throttle Switch failed after we
left Elk Grove, CA on our way to Duvall via Arcata, CA where we dropped our
daughter back off at school. It did not delay us but made driving more
challenging as every time I let off the gas the van acted like we hit a
wall unless I slipped the clutch at the same time. The transmission also
started to show a failure of the 3rd - 4th slider but it was a used one we
were running of unknown history and already had a fresh rebuild waiting for
installation which Daryl did before we drove home in June.
Maintenance is King but will not prevent failures from happening. Just
keep a positive attitude and have your favorite credit card available.
Mark in AK - wishing to be on the road again
`87 Westy Syncro
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