Date: Sat, 18 Jul 2015 13:48:40 -0400
Reply-To: Larry Alofs <lalofs@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Larry Alofs <lalofs@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Vanagon overheating on trip
In-Reply-To: <AC6A8FEC-679A-41D7-BA5F-E54FBD50E4BD@icloud.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
Mike,
I am confused by some of this info:
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?
I am not aware of any max or min marks on the OEM VW tank which has the
pressure cap. (Usually called the expansion tank)
The pressurized tank should normally be full to the top or very nearly
so. Any air there would be expelled by normal heating-cooling cycles.
Perhaps you have a leak which is losing coolant and letting air get in. If
your conversion is like mine you have various screw-type hose clamps which
need to be tightened from time to time.
Yes, if the system is not hot enough to be under pressure, you can open
both tanks and move coolant to the pressure tank and get it nearly full.
Assuming that you have a typical conversion with the level sensor in the
top of the pressure tank, a low coolant level in that tank will cause the
warning light to flash.
If no leak can be found, it is possible that an engine problem like a bad
head gasket is forcing exhaust gases into the cooling system. Before
jumping to conclusions tho, a pressure test of the cooling system would be
a good idea.
Good luck,
Larry A.
On Sat, Jul 18, 2015 at 12:47 PM, Michael <mikewelldon@icloud.com> wrote:
> >
> > 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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