Date: Sat, 18 Jul 2015 13:09:42 -0700
Reply-To: Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Vanagon overheating on trip
In-Reply-To: <AC6A8FEC-679A-41D7-BA5F-E54FBD50E4BD@icloud.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
When the engine is hot and system is pressurized, crack open the plug on top
of the radiator a couple turns and see if coolant dribbles out. Keep it
open until it does. If you purge air, fill the expansion tank up to the
opening and cool down overnight. Repeat until coolant comes out
immediately.
Air can get trapped in the top of the radiator. And fix the fan, you need
it! It could be a fuse.
Stuart
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Michael
Sent: Saturday, July 18, 2015 9:47 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Vanagon overheating on trip
>
> Overheating issue/88 Westy auto with 2.2 Subaru and non-connected
> factory A/C
>
>
> What is happening:
>
>
> 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.
>
>
> Got off the ferry and onto this island (no more ferries tonight) and upon
about 10 minutes of driving the red light is back and the needle is slightly
above the warning light. Stopped the van and have begun checking things out.
This is what I've thought of so far:
>
>
> 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.
> 3. Temperature gauge. The first 800 or so miles the needle would stay at
the top of the warning light and not move. The past week the needle has
started to "shift." When going at a higher rate of speed or downhill the
needle will actually lower to halfway on the warning light, and sometimes
below it. Great! Until now, now the needle is slightly above the coolant
warning light and the light flashes its angry warning to me.
>
> 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. Question: Can i open the coolant tank and move
coolant from the expansion tank to the coolant tank without having to burp
the system?
>
> 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.
>
>
> So, my hope is that the van has magically fixed itself overnight and when
I start it again the blinking red light will stay off. If, however, the van
is not self-repairing, does anyone have any ideas?
>
>
> 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.
>
>
>
> If anyone has any good ideas or questions or directional advice on where
to start, that'd be great.
>
>
>
> Viva le vanagon!
>
>
> Mike
>
>
>
>
>
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