Date: Sat, 18 Jul 2015 11:15:00 -0700
Reply-To: Neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Vanagon overheating on trip
In-Reply-To: <AC6A8FEC-679A-41D7-BA5F-E54FBD50E4BD@icloud.com>
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The system *might* still be self bleeding air out of itself. (due to
hose replacement)
Depending on coolant temperature, the valve in expansion tank cap
allows coolant out of expansion tank or the reverse. Movement of coolant
may take some time. (i.e. not in a minute or two)
Would suggest getting rad fan figured out (wiring issue due to engine
swap and-or non connected AC?) I'm sure there's a relatively "easy"
way to check that the fan itself works.
Red light can be a "red herring" but it sounds like it was doing what it should;
indicating a low coolant situation.
Engine cold, top up expansion tank, top up fill tank. Inspect hose
between these tanks.
Look for lost coolant at level sensor on expansion tank.
You won't really know if your coolant temps are too high just by reading
the temp gauge. Would suggest using an infrared gun to measure temps
at heads, coolant pipe/hose from engine to radiator.
Neil.
On 7/18/15, Michael <mikewelldon@icloud.com> wrote:
>>
>> Overheating issue/88 Westy auto with 2.2 Subaru
>> and non-connected factory A/C
>> I've been driving the van now for about 1,000 miles after having a new
>> cooling hose put on at the thermo housing. The van has not overheat on
>> numerous trips since then, both country driving and city driving.
>> At the end of a 90 mile journey (getting ready to get on a ferry to an
>> island), just as I was shutting the van off the red light started.We were
>> parked on a steep hill with the nose facing downward.
>>
>> What is known:
>> 1. No leaks that I can find. Checked hose connections, checked rear heater
>> core, checked the ground.
>> 2. No radiator fan. The van has gone 1,000 miles since the fan died and
>> the temperature needle has stayed at the top of the warning light on the
>> dash.
>> 4. Coolant levels. The coolant level in the tank is at the min, which is
>> lower than I remember it being a week ago. The expansion tank is about a
>> half inch above max.
>> 5. Upon starting the van, didn't see any coolant move from tank or
>> overflow tank. I'm quite new at vanagon cooling systems (and cooling
>> systems in general) so my guess is that it's just not circulating yet and
>> would eventually once the engine heated up.
>>
>> I really don't think it's the radiator fan for the simple fact that I've
>> done a bunch of travelling in all sorts of warm weather, stop and go
>> traffic and circumstances where if the fan was the culprit, the van would
>> have all ready overheated. My thought is that the thermo may not be
>> opening all the way or there is a blockage somewhere in the system.
--
Neil n
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