Date: Thu, 9 May 2013 10:08:11 -0700
Reply-To: Tom Carchrae <carchrae@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Tom Carchrae <carchrae@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: coolant overflow fears and thoughts
In-Reply-To: <CA+r=JhpmE8jvy93M6jJa_M2WnR7+kHdMrwONe+pBHbMj48jNMg@mail.gmail.com>
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Thanks Larry!
Sadly, when I checked my van the other day after going up a somewhat
serious hill and I saw some small amount of bubbling in the tank behind
the license plate when it was idling - so I suspect there are combustion
gasses coming through. :/ I'd like to do the sniffer test again. Is
there any chance this could be coming from anything natural - eg, like
steam/water vapour from the coolant? Engine was probably on for about
15 minutes in total - warm enough to get up to full operating
temperature, but not for any length of time.
I'm torn on what to do. I really don't have the time on my hands to do
a full engine removal and disassembly ala
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=286798 - so do I keep
driving it gently with this knowledge and wait until it gets so bad the
engine overheats?... I suspect it'll get worse over time and force me
to fix it.
Tom
On 13-05-08 03:00 PM, Larry Alofs wrote:
> Tom,
> If you (or anyone else) would like to make an adapter to test
> pressure caps, get this fitting from Stant:
>
> http://www.amazon.com/Stant-12017-Threaded-Radiator-Cooling/dp/B000CKTJYG
>
> Or search for Stant 12017
>
> Its two male ends let you attach the cap under test to another old cap
> that has had the valves removed. Then you just need a way of applying
> and measuring pressure.
>
> Larry A.
> finally found the box with that stuff in it
>
>
>
> On Mon, Apr 29, 2013 at 12:51 PM, Tom Carchrae <tom@carchrae.net
> <mailto:tom@carchrae.net>> wrote:
>
> Roger: Yeah, I want to build a tester gizmo. I also have a PSI
> guage that
> I was thinking of plumbing into the cooling system - I have not gotten
> around to it though!.... how did you build yours? I was thinking
> the best
> design would be an old expansion tank and a bike pump.
>
> Larry: I've only done the cursor blowing through the cap. I know
> it holds
> pressure (loosened it while warm!), and I know it can let
> fluid/air in/out.
>
>
> Yes, pressure caps are cheap, but the rest of your cooling system +
> radiators, etc are not. I think a cap tester is a good preventative
> investment. The quality of caps seems all over the place.
>
>
>
>
> On Mon, Apr 29, 2013 at 9:32 AM, Roger Barkley
> <rvbarkley4347@gmail.com <mailto:rvbarkley4347@gmail.com>>wrote:
>
> >
> > New pressure caps can be bad. I was suspect of my old one so
> ordered a new
> > one from GoWesty and installed. Thought I would test the old one
> so I built
> > a gizmo to test. It tested fine, just for kicks I tested the new
> one.....it
> > didn't start to bleed off untill nearly 30 #'s ! Returned it
> and put the
> > old one back on. Also went through two "new" front heater valves
> that
> > leaked after only a month or two. Went to VW for the third one,
> two years
> > and its still good. Moral.....be suspect of new parts...
> >
> > Roger B.
> >
> > From: Tom Carchrae <tom@CARCHRAE.NET <mailto:tom@CARCHRAE.NET>>
> > Subject: Re: coolant overflow fears and thoughts
> >
> > @Bill - I've blown through that pipe, it is not blocked. In
> fact, I used
> > it to drain the extra coolant out of the bottle. I wonder about
> it being
> > air tight though, although I've seen no leaks.
> >
> > @Dennis - Thanks. I've been tempted to build a cap tester just
> to confirm
> > my theory on that cap holding too much pressure. I ended up
> replacing
> > bleeder valve assembly, radiator, and at least one hose after
> that had
> > happened. The only other thing I can think of that may have
> caused the
> > pressure problems was a badly routed front heater bypass job
> (the heater
> > hose may have been pinched behind spare tire).
> >
> > I have done the combustion gas sniffer test, and it came out ok.
> I guess I
> > should have a compression and/or leakdown test done again and
> see if that
> > shows any signs. As you alluded, I suspect it may only be
> failing when
> > driving/under load.
> >
> > Any other ideas to confirm the issue before tearing the engine
> apart or
> > replacing... :/
> >
>
>
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