Vanagon EuroVan
Previous messageNext messagePrevious in topicNext in topicPrevious by same authorNext by same authorPrevious page (September 2015, week 4)Back to main VANAGON pageJoin or leave VANAGON (or change settings)ReplyPost a new messageSearchProportional fontNon-proportional font
Date:         Mon, 28 Sep 2015 14:27:13 -0700
Reply-To:     Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Missing coolant
Comments: To: Jim Felder <jim.felder@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <CAFnDXk1FWhOG+uXJsJjudSyV0e77YzOETnMLgx5A6wb87ZkQsw@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

Thanks Jim, the cap was replaced with an OEM cap when the water pump was done 13,000 miles ago, and the overflow tank doesn’t show any evidence of any spillage on or under it. I’m thinking small leaks too, but I’d like to narrow it down. The 2.1 has a lot more hoses than my 1.9!

Stuart

From: Jim Felder [mailto:jim.felder@gmail.com] Sent: Monday, September 28, 2015 2:21 PM To: Stuart MacMillan; vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com Subject: Re: Missing coolant

Old hoses leak microscopic amounts of coolant. Ive had it spray onto the engine in such small quantities that it would evaporate before you could see it. Tighten hoses, replace hoses is about all you can do. But you didn't mention testing the pressure cap. That can send a good deal of coolant into the expansion tank, which can drip on the road through the overflow and you won't know it.

Jim

On Mon, Sep 28, 2015 at 4:11 PM Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@gmail.com> wrote:

Just when everything seems to be sorted out, it isn't. Son's '87 is losing over a quart of coolant every 400 miles, and I can't find any leaks. Rear heater has been removed, and there is no odor from the front heater. No drips anywhere-engine plumbing, heads, transmission cooler, radiator, or front heater valve. No evidence of coolant mixing with either the transmission fluid or engine oil, and that much coolant would certainly foam oil.

I'm wondering if it's burning coolant, but in my experience failed sealing rings in Vanagons lead to over pressurization of the system, and that's not happening. It also runs great. I sometimes notice a faint smell of burning coolant at the engine compartment vents, but I can't find anything dripping on the exhaust when the system is pressurized.

Would investing in a UV leak detection kit tell me anything? It would seem losing this much coolant would show up somewhere.

Any ideas?

Stuart


Back to: Top of message | Previous page | Main VANAGON page

Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!


Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com


The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.

Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.