Date:         Tue, 8 Sep 2015 14:32:42 -0400
Reply-To:     William Monk <billmonk@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         William Monk <billmonk@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Faint coolant smell
Comments: To: Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <02d301d0ea62$5eca8690$1c5f93b0$@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

Get a coolant UV die kit from the auto parts store. Take the guess work out
of it.

Bill
On Sep 8, 2015 2:15 PM, "Stuart MacMillan" <stuartmacm@gmail.com> wrote:

> Twice when I've had this problem it's been the rear heater core.  They can
> weep enough to smell, but not see until they blow.  You need to slide out
> the core. Just remove the screws holding the fan assembly to the floor and
> raise it up a bit to get the clearance you need to slide the core out for
> inspection.  No need to disconnect anything except maybe the wiring plug.
>
> Stuart
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Roy Nicholl
> Sent: Tuesday, September 08, 2015 9:59 AM
> 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
>