Date: Mon, 4 Jul 2016 09:59:14 -0400
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: 1991 2.1 - Oil Cooler coolant line blown...
In-Reply-To: <80c4e8c6-6799-627c-b3c1-119167d6e54b@williamsitconsulting.com>
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The oil cooler acts as an oil warmer during cold weather and shortly after start up. During high speed/high load operation as the oil tires to get near 240f the oil cooler does remove much of that heat to the 190f coolant. You can block off the lines to get home with little effect. If you get the oil way ho hot the oil warning system buzzer will let you know as you slow down.
Those two elbow hoses are two different part numbers. For the hose that connects to the short pipe going to the water pump the replacements are the wrong size on the pipe, too large. A piece of shrink tubing on the pipe end will build it up so the shoes doesn't have to over clamped to seal it. If you were to get the clamps from the dealer by part number you will now get crimp clamps on the pipe and spring clamps on the cooler. Changes these hoses can be a bear. I usually remove the cooler, (replace the gasket while there), and loosen the brackets holding both pipes. Some lubricant on the hoses will help them slide and turn into place.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Steve Williams
Sent: Monday, July 4, 2016 12:55 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: 1991 2.1 - Oil Cooler coolant line blown...
Hi,
<posted to Facebook VOG as well>
I've got a 1991 Westfalia stock with a 2.1 L (stock) engine.
Heading home today, I got the blinking low coolant light. Heart attack, but the temperature was fine.
Pulled over immediately and sure enough the tanks were low. Topped up with water as I only had 50 km to go to my gf's place in Lake Louise and I now knew my low coolant sensor is working, I wasn't too stressed. The temperature needle never wavered a bit.
Tried the parking lot repair and if it hadn't started raining, I probably would have gotten it fixed. It is what I believe is the return line for the oil cooler. Had to pull the oil filter off to get to the hose & was overjoyed to find that the entire crankcase didn't empty out :)
Other than a brain fart, where I got impatient removing the hose, thinking I had a spare piece that would fit... I cut the old hose off the oil cooler. Only when I got the hose cut, could I see that the 2 ends of the hose are different sizes :(
I had cut a slit lengthwise & if I was WAY more patient (or stranded up a logging road, like I could have been if it happened yesterday!), I could have fashioned a repair using the silicone repair tape that I carry with me due to the great recommendation of this list.
Like I said, it started raining, so I went inside & had a shower and pondered the situation.
I seem to remember reading on this list that the unit isn't so much an "oil cooler", but an "oil pre-heater"... but I could be wrong which is why I'm coming back to the list.
I'm 175 km from home on relatively flat roads. It's not that hot out here in the Canadian mountains.
On page 19.14 of the Bently, the hose that is blown is the one on the oil cooler line on the "To Thermostat".
I'm thinking to block off the host at the thermostat end as well as the hose coming from the water pump.
Am I totally out to lunch?
Thanks,
Steve Williams
