Date: Sun, 13 Sep 2015 06:56:00 -0700
Reply-To: Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Thermostats...question(s)
In-Reply-To: <BAY405-EAS18A6A1F1B20C41F191B1F7A05E0@phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
Thanks,
When I noticed the Van's 'bubbling sounds' I was un-aware that my
oil/coolant heat exchanger had a small pin-hole coolant leak at that time,
which I have fixed....Replaced the part..(thanks, Jim Felder)
.But during my repair I was messing with all my hoses as I bled and
re-checked everything and I could not confirm that the thermostat was
passing any/much hot coolant back from the radiator. It MUST be working,
at least partially, because the van runs down the highway without
overheating, but usually the temperature gauge stays near the very top of
that zone marked at the cool end of the temperature gauge....and it often
doesn't act consistently ...it acts like the thermostat is behaving
poorly..(I think)
What with the List chat about poor parts quality, specifically a number
of people citing brand new thermostats that don't work, I want to either
confirm I have a good one, then install that tested one, or get a reputable
brand new. part, and install that one, for my own peace of mind. I have
abused this little ABA inline VW gas motor enough already.....Ha...
The thermostat housing it front and center on the top of my inline
motor, so it's an easy task to remove, test and or replace.....The current
thermostat was installed about one year ago and has gone about 20k
miles....almost always sitting right at the upper edge of the cool zone at
low end of the temperature scale on the temp gauge, never coming up to the
LED like it did, usually, in the past....
Why the significant parts price difference? and which one is most likely
to NOT be faulty from the factory and to keep working over a reasonable
amount of time? Any recommendations as to brand here? Thanks all.....
DonHanson
On Sun, Sep 13, 2015 at 5:40 AM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
wrote:
> Yes, I meant NOT properly pressurized. The system could also pressurized
> but with air or vapor pockets.
>
> Dennis
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
> Of Larry Alofs
> Sent: Sunday, September 13, 2015 8:15 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Thermostats...question(s)
>
> did you mean *not* properly pressurized?
>
>
> On Sun, Sep 13, 2015 at 1:20 AM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > Bubbling and gurgling in the cooling system is a sign that the system
> > is properly pressurized and parts of the engine are hot enough that
> > the coolant is flash vaporizing. This is a great way to cause parts to
> > warp and other nasty stuff to happen. Begin with testing the pressure
> > cap and making sure the system is fully filled-bled. If this continues
> > you need to look for the cause of either lack of pressure or if the
> > system continues getting air in it you need to find the source. This
> > is often the early signs of head gasket failure or cracked heads.
> >
> > Dennis
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
> > Behalf Of Don Hanson
> > Sent: Saturday, September 12, 2015 2:58 PM
> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > Subject: Thermostats...question(s)
> >
> > Is there an accepted method to test the function of one of our double
> > style thermostats? I am skeptical about the proper operation of my
> > currently installed one.... lately....I have had some other issues
> > with cooling and recently replaced my oil/coolant heat exchanger (mine
> had a pin
> > hole water leak to the outside). But I also noticed once recently that
> I
> > could hear some bubbling in my coolant system when I shut the van off,
> > and I have not heard the fan recently.
> >
> > Anyhow, I have a spare used thermostat sitting on my bench, unknown
> > condition....I'd like to see if it actually works and maybe swap that
> > in....If no worky, what kind or brand should I buy to get a good
> > dependable part?
> >
> > So can I drop the spare I want to test into boiling water and measure
> > it, testing for function, or some such? It would be good to know, even
> if
> > I do just buy a replacement, that my spare is OK and working..
> > I have calipers to measure mechanical things.
> >
>
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