Date: Sun, 21 Dec 2014 17:56:46 -0600
Reply-To: Kevin Duvernay <kduvey@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Kevin Duvernay <kduvey@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: 87 Westy overheating after coolant change
In-Reply-To: <549752A3.3020809@cox.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
Thanks Mark and Richard for the quick replies.
Ive done more messing about and have some additional observations and
theories.
But firstly, to address Mark's question. I have replaced nothing more than
just the hose clamp on the mentioned junction between rubber coolant hose
and plastic coolant pipe. I actually replaced the original rusted one with
two new ones. I can feel the metal insert coming out slightly so I placed a
one new one where the original one was (over the plastic pipe) and a second
new one over the 'rim' of the metal insert. Im hoping this will be adequate
to avoid disaster for a round trip from Houston to Big Bend National Park
and back before I can manage to properly deal with it (e.g. Gowesty's
repair kit or just all new stainless steel pipes).
Other than the leak that sprung when I pressurized the system to slightly
over operating pressure, the cooling system, and everything else on the van
for that matter, has operated seemingly flawlessly for the ~1000 miles I've
put on it since buying it 2 weeks ago.
After going for a couple laps around the block driving as jerky as a could
and messing about with the heater controls I am quite confident the system
is near perfectly bleed. This gowesty pump is pretty slick, seems much
easier than the bong and crazy jacking methods Ive read about.
Now the new observations: when I am driving the temperature stays really
low, just above the white park at the bottom of the gauge. occasionally it
makes it to halfway from the white mark to the LED, but it has never
touched the LED. However, when idling and not moving the radiator fan keeps
the temps stable exactly at the LED. I have never just idled it long enough
to realize this. In conjunction with the fact that I had just replaced the
coolant I jumped to the conclusion I was overheating. In actuality, sounds
like the system is functioning fine.
SO, Im thinking this means I either have a thermostat that is stuck open or
I have one that is rated for too low of a temperature. Is this something
that needs to be addressed immediately? Anything Im missing hear?
Thoughts?
Thanks again guys, I can tell this is going to be an invaluable resource as
I get started with this thing. Maybe one day I can return the favor in some
way.
