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Date:         Mon, 22 May 2017 13:13:00 -0700
Reply-To:     Edward V Barger <edvbarger@MAC.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Edward V Barger <edvbarger@MAC.COM>
Subject:      Re: Coolant overflow tank question...
Comments: To: Frank Condelli <RAlanen@AOL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <303E143C-7373-464C-AE9F-27C71394011A@aol.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Is this pretty much the same for a diesel ?

Edward V Barger edvbarger@mac.com 310 922 6251

> On May 21, 2017, at 3:22 AM, Frank Condelli <RAlanen@AOL.COM> wrote: > > Roman, the cooling system on the Vanagon waterboxer engined Westy operates pretty must as on any other water cooled engined vehicle. As the engine heats up the coolant, eventually the pressure in the system will rise, once it gets over 13 lbs the cap on the expansion tank releases the pressure by sending some coolant to the overflow tank to reduce the pressure in the system. When the engine cools off sufficiently, usually overnight, a vacuum is created in the system which draws back the correct amount of coolant into the system so that it should always be full when stone cold. All this is based on a coolant system that is perfectly sealed, any leaks anywhere and this will not work properly. I recommend that you always keep the overflow tank filled to the MAX line when looking at it with he engine stone cold. Each and every time you look at the overflow tank when the engine is stone cold the level should be at the MAX level as you left it at the start, if not something is not working properly. If you need to add fluid then there is a loss of it somewhere, leaking out to the atmosphere, being burnt up inside the combustion chambers or in extreme conditions, the overflow tank can become over full and the fluid will go out to the atmosphere through a vent in the top of that tank. Looking at the overflow tank while running is not useful in determining how much fluid you have as you cannot tell if the system has recently been over-pressured and fluid sent to the overflow tank and vice versa because as the engine cools off, even when running, a vacuum will be created which draws fluid back to the expansion tank. This scenario is happening on an ongoing bases while driving the vehicle. Hope that helps you. > > >> On May 21, 2017, at 12:00 AM, Automatic digest processor <LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> wrote: >> >> So, I was just reading elsewhere where some one asked about their overflow t= >> ank being empty and their van overheating, etc, and it brought a question to= >> mind. =20 >> I get so much good info here on The List I thought I'd ask here first... >> >> When the coolant overflows into the tank, does it draw back into the engine w= >> hen it cools, like other vehicles I've had? Curious to know because my tho= >> ught is that ,if the engine is getting hot and there is none in the overflow= >> tank, I assumed I could just add some to the tank and it would draw into th= >> e engine. >> >> Is this so, or is there something I don't know. I mean, I know i don't know= >> stuff ;) but I need to know, ya know? > > Cheers, > > Frank Condelli > Almonte, Ontario, Canada > '87 VW Westy, '00 Kawasaki 250 Sherpa, "98 Ducati 750 Monster & Lionel Trains (Collection for sale <http://frankcondelli.com/trainsal.htm>) > Frank Condelli & Associates <http://www.frankcondelli.com/> - Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley > BusFusion <http://www.busfusion.com/> a VW Camper camping event, Almonte, ON, June 08 ~ 11, 2017


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