Date: Wed, 14 Oct 2015 01:36:23 -0600
Reply-To: Eric Wunrow <VW@ERICWUNROW.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Eric Wunrow <VW@ERICWUNROW.COM>
Subject: Re: Missing coolant
In-Reply-To: <036601d0fa34$717c4f80$5474ee80$@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252
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!
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> Stuart
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> 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
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> 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.
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> Jim
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> On Mon, Sep 28, 2015 at 4:11 PM Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@gmail.com> wrote:
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> 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.
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> 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.
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> Would investing in a UV leak detection kit tell me anything? It would seem
> losing this much coolant would show up somewhere.
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> Any ideas?
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> Stuart
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