Date: Sun, 21 Apr 2013 11:41:22 -0700
Reply-To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject: Re: NOT SMART of me, BUT...
In-Reply-To: <CAOBs5F7YvSeBqBdNxyTQXJ6G2s0soRLAKdiyz1kDKqBH-GnhRQ@mail.gmail.com>
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It would be good if you knew what type of anti-frz your van has in it now.
The two likely types are conventional Green ..
or possibly VW Blue or it's modern equivilant.
if it doesn't look like conventional green a-frz ..
there are 'will mix with any type of anti-frz' versions ..
and most good parts stores these days will have that.
at this time of the year ..
you could just dillute your mixture some with clean water.
A lower percentage of a-frz/water ratiocools better actually ..
which you can plainly see reading the side of a bottle of Water Wetter ..
which is a good thing to add at this time of the year.
'the main enemy' of vangons , to me, besides neglect and poor work done
on them , is corrosion.
All vanagons could use a fresh change of coolant every two years at least..
So get some liquid in there for now ..
then get the coolant checked / serviced / changed when you can.
I useconventional green myself ..
though some people will make a Huge Fuss over 'eet MUST be zee phosphate
free stuff !!!! ' ...
just be aware of that factor.
And parts stores sell phosphate free a-frz too.
And many quality anti-frz brands are made to work with aluminum like our
vans use.
That there is something clean and fairly fresh in the system, with an
intelligently choosen coolant mixture is what's actually important ..not
that it TOTALLY MUST be this or that specific coolant. Some people are
unnesscariy anal about that, believe me.
I also, and have been for 25 + years, put in a small amount ( mall cup
full ) of water soluble machinist's cutting oil as a rust inhibitor and
water pump lubricant with excellent results to thousands of cars and
vanagons ..
though people willfreak out over that notion too. lol....they usually
do. Trust me, it works perfectly.
what, people don't know where Long Beach Ca is ? ..
and that it's populated as could be ! lol!
scott
turbovans.com
On 4/21/2013 11:22 AM, PB wrote:
> I'm out in Long Beach, CA (a populated area) with my water light blinking.
> Nearby VW stores are closed, but there ARE nearby auro parts stores. Is
> there any anti-freeze that will be OK to use. Of course I have some at
> home, 35 miles away. I'm just parked until I know what to do. This is my
> very first on the road mechanical "issue" in 6 yrs.
> Thanks in advance.
> Patti
> 90 Westy Automatic
>