Date: Sat, 12 Sep 2015 10:54:24 -0300
Reply-To: Roy Nicholl <RNicholl@NBNET.NB.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Roy Nicholl <RNicholl@NBNET.NB.CA>
Subject: Re: Faint coolant smell
In-Reply-To: <BAY405-EAS415CDD70067E5E70C3F5C9AA05F0@phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Dennis,
There was no overheat event. The shaft seal on the water pump simply started leaking while the Hyena was sitting in the drive.
I have re-bled the system, but the temperature gauge is still running a needle's width lower than before I replaced the water pump.
As near as I can tell, neither heater core has ever been replaced. The shutoff valve on the rear heater has been replaced. I have also ordered a new core for the rear heater ... start there as it appears to be the easiest one to replace.
I was planning on removing the lower dash to replace the front heater core, but I will now look at accessing it through the glove box.
Thanks,
Roy
On 12-Sep-2015, at 10:47, Dennis Haynes wrote:
> Did you have an overheat or coolant loss event prompting the water pump
> replacement? Thermostat or gauge senders can get damaged from these events.
> Having slightly different (low) gauge indication is not cause for alarm. For
> opening the heater cores isn't the front one simply controlled by the dash
> lever? The heaters bleed easily on their own. No need for gymnastics. Once
> the cooling system is bled enough for it operate at all it will finish with
> no extra effort unless you still have leaks or the engine is putting
> combustion gasses in there.
>
> For the smells carefully check the heater cores. If you don't remember when
> they were done it may be time. The front core can be service by removing the
> glove box and carefully cutting the side so you can slide the core out. This
> how the dealer was doing them back in the day.
>
> Dennis
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Roy Nicholl
> Sent: Tuesday, September 8, 2015 12:59 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Faint coolant smell
>
> All,
>
> A couple of weeks ago, I replaced the water pump in the Hyena ('88 Westy
> WBX). The past few days, I've thought I smelled a faint trace of coolant in
> the van itself. I checked the hoses, the radiator, the front and rear
> heaters (best I could using a camera probe and mirrors without removing all
> the plastic) and have found no leaks. I checked the bleeder on the
> radiator, no leak. I have seen no noticeable drop in coolant level in the
> reservoir.
>
> Any ideas on where I should explore next?
>
> I have also noted that my temperature gauge is now running a little lower
> (from top half to bottom half of LED ... about a needles width). I plan to
> open both heater cores wide (they are partially shutdown at the moment),
> park with the nose in the air, run it for a few moments, then open then
> bleed the system again just to ensure I do not have an air bubble.
>
> Roy
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