Date: Wed, 14 Oct 2015 11:50:45 -0400
Reply-To: Dean S <predsmaniac@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dean S <predsmaniac@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Missing coolant
In-Reply-To: <008301d10695$6cbd8af0$4638a0d0$@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
Hi Stuart...I have an 85 also mostly stock and have had the same "weird"
coolant issue as you describe...a new cap seems to have solved the issue
for now..but thats just honey runs out and back ..but this weekend we will
put around 300 roundtrip miles on him..Then I will know for sure if this is
at least the correct problem to solve...it sure is a head scratcher.
Thanks for bringing this one to the forefront.
DS
On Wed, Oct 14, 2015 at 11:31 AM, Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@gmail.com>
wrote:
> Blau is the brand of choice, and sold by our list vendors. I hope it
> lasts, but I carry a spare since they are only about $10. My original cap
> just failed, so I took it apart to see why. It's very well made, but had a
> lot of gray crud in it, and the seal no longer sealed, likely because the
> spring had lost its "spring". The Blau is not as robust and is a simpler
> design.
>
> For those with money this is the permanent fix:
> http://www.rockymountainwesty.com/Vanagon_Aluminum_Expansion_Tank_p/025121403-al.htm
>
> Stuart
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
> Of Jim Felder
> Sent: Wednesday, October 14, 2015 7:08 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Missing coolant
>
> You are exactly right, the one-way feature on the valve is something I
> have know VW shops to argue about. When I had a 2.1, I would test them
> before leaving the parts place because so many of them didn't work out of
> the box.
> The "good" ones didn't last long, either. I suspect you might be buying a
> brand called "Meyle Germany" but that is just the brand name some company
> bought, and they could be made absolutely anywhere. You might try the
> dealers but good luck with that.
>
> One of these days, all vanagon drivers are going to be using that cap
> simply as a connection to a one-way valve from a third party, inline
> between the reservoir tank and the overflow tank.
>
> Jim
>
> On Wed, Oct 14, 2015 at 2:41 AM Eric Wunrow <VW@ericwunrow.com> wrote:
>
> > I'm a total rookie compared to you guys, but wanted to note I've had
> > at least three expansion tank (blue) cap failures in 23,000, full-time
> > miles over 26 months on the road. I believe the failures are somewhat
> > related to how many heating/cooling cycles they're asked to do.
> >
> > I only buy the German ones, and my test is if you can both suck and
> > blow on the cap, it's toast (please keep the jokes to yourself).
> >
> > My understanding is the cap should only release pressure one direction
> > — not two.
> >
> > Eric
> > Eric Wunrow Pictures
> >
> > 303. 988. 8717
> > VW@EricWunrow.com
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On Sep 28, 2015, at 3:27 PM, Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > 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
> > >
> >
>
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