Date: Sun, 21 Dec 2014 22:41:59 -1000
Reply-To: "SDF ( aka ;jim lahey' - Scott )" <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "SDF ( aka ;jim lahey' - Scott )" <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Organization: Cosmic Reminders
Subject: Re: 87 Westy overheating after coolant change
In-Reply-To: <BAY405-EAS1135E65FBD83442A0819366A0560@phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed
as stated some already ..
a sudden loss of coolant can result in no change being noted on the temp
gauge..
since the sensor can't read steam or air very well.
to the original poster ..
AND..on a water cooled vanagon while driving you should look at the temp
gauge about every minute..
or every two minutes max.
on a 2WD 2.1 waterboxer engine the t-stat housing is originally and
usually plastic.
there are two temp sensors..
one is for Engine Coolant Temp to the ECU ..
the other on runs the gauge .
some things to watch out for ..
the 4 hex head screws ( 10 mm wrench size ) about 20 times I've had the
brass insert in the lower part of the housing spin in the plastic ..
giving you a screw that won't come out ..
making drilling or grinding the head off necessary.
if it does come apart nicely ..
put anti-seize on the threads of the screws going back in.
fwiw ..unless I did it ..I have yet to see one drop of anti-seize on any
threaded fastener on hundreds of vanagons I have worked on ..just
something that people don't seem to know about or consider.
it can make a huge difference next time it comes apart.
where the temp sensors stick in the holes on the side of the t-stat
housing ..
if touching those ...nice to have new o-rings on hand.
the big metal clips ..last time I got some at the VW dealer they are now
plastic.
Keep those good metal clips.
the plastic where the metal clips go can break ...that plastic gets
brittle with age.
if you can ..
replace the whole thing with a metal one.
I like to run the warmer t-stat in the winter.
I use only good german ones ..Behr brand .
or Waller sometimes.
On 12/21/2014 4:01 PM, Dennis Haynes wrote:
> The 1.9L needs to have coolant actually flowing to read temperature also. Even engines with the sensor in the head need the coolant to be accurate. Same problem if the pump stops turning such as a belt failure. In both cases the gauge will not read high until after you make steam or melt stuff. Over the years I have removed a number of heads that have actually melted along with some piston tops.
>
> Dennis
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of mark drillock
> Sent: Sunday, December 21, 2014 8:05 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: 87 Westy overheating after coolant change
>
> That is an excellent point. The 86+ has the temp gauge sender in the thermostat housing. It needs coolant flowing to get an accurate reading, especially with the plastic housing most vans have. Syncros have a metal one and there are metal aftermarket ones available as well.
>
> Mark
>
> Kevin Duvernay wrote:
>> Thanks. I will add a new thermostat to the to-do list. Quick question,
>> where is the sensor for the temperature gauge? Is it measuring coolant
>> temp or engine temp? Im trying to think about what its response would
>> be if there was a catastrophic loss of coolant, a major leak.
>>
>> Kevin
>>
>>
>
