Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2022 17:55:44 +0000
Reply-To: Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Subject: Re: temp light blinking
In-Reply-To: <CACvdLxPj1JnGDrDO9NxW2Y+8UWyWmZLSRrbtBHKA3YwuNvKjnw@mail.gmail.com>
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Dave, I have been holding off replying to your question....in hopes that more savvy mechanics would chime in. But in my case with low coolant in pressure vessel, I simply disconnected the hose at blue cap, removed cap, filled pressure vessel to top; replaced cap and hose, and all has been well for two years. Yes, did this with cool motor. Remember...motor coolant expands with temperature rise. The idea of a properly sealed system is that as coolant expands, it overflows into the other tank, and then as coolant temperature lowers, there is suction that draws back from overflow tank to refill pressure vessel tank. The fact that this is not working so good seems to me that some leak is occurring in one of the hoses or hose connection, and that "air" is being drawn back into pressure tank instead of coolant. But I don't see any harm with what I have described, other than it doesn't fix the "root" of the problem. Again, I'm patiently waiting along with you for expert opinions from the other guys.
On Tuesday, February 1, 2022, 06:21:10 PM PST, David McNeely <davmcneely40@gmail.com> wrote:
Drove the camper 25 miles this afternoon (with available coolant in the cabin). LED never blinked, and after engine was warm, rode dead center on the LED, like it usually does. Ambient temp this afternoon low 30s. I should have mentioned before also, the heater provided plenty of warm (almost hot) air. Would the heater heat with low coolant? As I said before, the overflow tank was at max, and I can't see in the pressure tank, ,walls opaque, though plastic.
mcneely
On Tue, Feb 1, 2022 at 11:46 AM Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
Yeah, my guess would be low coolant in pressure vessel. Perhaps some tiny leak in hoses or connections. Of course, very easy fix to add 50/50 coolant....and then observe for a while.
Side note: I just ordered the aluminum pressure vessel from Van Cafe. Not that I'm having any issues of late. But word on the street is that the plastic tank and the plastic cap tend to degrade over time, and reliable parts are getting hard to come by. Since I plan to keep my Subie 2.2 Vanagon Tintop for another 30 years and do a lot of long distance travel, I figured what the heck, go for it.
On Tuesday, February 1, 2022, 11:35:45 AM PST, David McNeely <davmcneely40@gmail.com> wrote:
Had an odd incident this morning. Driving at about 35 mph, ambient temp 24
F, no wind, temp needle on the LED as usual, having driven about 5 miles
from cold start, temp led started blinking. When I could get to a safe
spot, I pulled over, let the vehicle cool, and went on to my destination
(another 8 miles) with no reoccurrance. I then drove home (13 miles),
stopping to buy coolant just in case. Right now, the van is in my garage,
waiting cool down to check for low coolant or leaks.
Any thoughts? By the time you read this, and anyone gets back to me, I
will have checked it of course.
David McNeely
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