Date: Thu, 9 May 2024 19:54:11 -0700
Reply-To: mark@MARKMCCULLEY.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Mark McCulley <mark@MARKMCCULLEY.COM>
Subject: Re: Coolant hose blues, best replacement kit?
In-Reply-To: <E960C445-0771-4D1D-9CC9-9421C91AC7AF@comcast.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
My musings on coolant hose replacement...
Clamps are very important. If you have the original spring clamps you can reuse them. If not you can get new spring clamps from Buslab. Spring clamps are superior to the standard screw clamps because they keep a constant clamping pressure even when hoses expand and contract with temperature changes. Get a proper tool for installing and removing the spring clamps.
Borrow or buy a good pressure tester. This will allow you to check for leaks as well as fill the system with coolant. The cheap bicycle pump tester sold by GoWesty is not very good in my opinion. Many parts stores (Autozone, NAPA) will loan you a pressure tester. If you get one of the aluminum reservoirs it will come with a standard radiator pressure cap. Use the pressure tester to test the cap, the one that came with my new reservoir was bad and caused the system to run at too high of a pressure.
Replace all hoses and distribution pieces. Many of the distribution pieces (that connect multiple hoses together) are available in metal now to replace the original plastic ones. Use the metal ones if available. You only want to do this job once.
Be prepared to spend a couple of days on this project if you are at all slow like I am. It is not super easy, some of the hoses are awkward to access, especially when you don't have a rack. Lifting the van on jack stands or ramps will help a lot.
Have fun!
-Mark
> On May 8, 2024, at 7:38 AM, Eric Caron <ericcaron96@COMCAST.NET> wrote:
>
> Hi Listers,
>
> On a short trip from home billows of steam came out the back of my 84. We quickly pulled into a safe pull off.
>
> I found fluid on the ground, and an empty coolant reservoir and overflow tank. More drips by the rear passenger wheel, and a dissipating steam cloud.
>
> I called my local vanagon shop and asked if I could drop it off. I wanted to call as they are so busy that there is rarely a spot in the parking lot for another van.
>
> Not only did the office manager say yes but she offered to come help. I said know I would have them fix it. I was tempted to try to do a road side repair but my wife was not interested.
>
> Not long later our friend arrived to rescue us, and as we waited for the toe my Vanagon mechanic and wife showed up. They wanted to be sure we were ok.
>
> Next day the van was put back together. A original heater hose had split. He replaced that section and suggested I do a full replacement in the near future.
>
> So, What kit for hose replacements are recommended by folks in this group?
>
> This is a 1.9 set up on my GW 2.3.
>
> Pipes are metal not plastic so wondering if those are original and need replacing, or if originals were plastic.
>
> If needing pipes again what are folks recommending?
>
> My radiator and the two hoses coming off it are new last year. So need all other hoses to engine. And, likely pipes unless someone did those. I’m not sure how to check.
>
> For me to do the job this winter I’d need a full kit with clamps and such and a little help from this list.
>
> Engine Compartment hoses look very good, and a few, like those on the H pipe I did replace. So need hoses from engine to the two hoses coming off the radiator, and pipes. And other hoses I may not know about!
>
> As I’m doing the job in the winter I expect I’ll opt to also install an updated metal reservoir. So, recommendations on that appreciated.
>
> But, most important now, is to find a complete kit to improve the coolant hose and pipe reliability.
> I don’t know what I don’t know, so please share your recommendations and experiences.
>
> VW should be ashamed the original hose only lasted 40 years and 250,000 miles.
>
> Eric Caron
> 84 1.9 set up.
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