Date:         Tue, 26 Apr 2016 15:46:46 -0500
Reply-To:     John Rodgers <jrodgers113@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Rodgers <jrodgers113@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Filling the coolant reservoir...
Comments: To: Scott <SCOTTDANIEL@turbovans.com>
In-Reply-To:  <CA+az7_64eYBKgKd-RnszqYdGzuSkwH28CVUDwcW3MaZ_iKMo3g@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

Thats pretty much what I was trying to say, but I don't ever bring it up
that high. I check it every gas fillup, everytime I add oil, and evertime
it is cooled down. You can't over check that coolat level because of engine
safety reasons,

John
On Apr 26, 2016 15:33, "Scott" <SCOTTDANIEL@turbovans.com> wrote:

I can't make a lot of sense of what you wrote,
but I can say this ...

on the OverFlow Bottle/ License Plate bottle ..
I do like to fill them right to the bottom of the cap opening,
which is obviously above the max line on the bottle.

I like to get as much  coolant in to that bottle as I can since
commonly,  vanagons use a bit of coolant usually,
I've seen many of those overflow bottles nearly empty.

One warning though ...
on a really hot day, the coolant in that bottle can expand enough to
push coolant out of the air vent on top of the bottle,
making it look like ..."oh crap ....I have a leak !!  "

< happening to me on a 105F hot day ..after I pulled into a parking spot
and shut off. .   Coolant temp goes up even higher when things stop
circulating when you shut off the engine of course. >

And when that happens it's not really a real leak of course.
Sometimes it even smokes and steams on the muffler.  ..more excitement.

This is why VW has a max line below the cap opening ...so at max coolant
expansion, it won't be pushing coolant out the top air vent hole.

Scott


On 04/26/2016 07:48 AM, Dan N wrote:

> hi all,
>
> Recently I had a discussion with a guy regarding filling the coolant
> reservoir, the main with a blue cap - on 2.1 WBX engine...
>
> - me: I always fill it as much as to the max and fill the overflow tank to
> max at the cap.
>
> - him: he fills the main reservoir only half way at the seams of the tank
> fill the overflow tank to max line
>
> I think he's wrong...
>
> what do you think?
>
> thanks
>
> dan
>
>