Date: Thu, 26 Mar 1998 08:05:40 -0500
Reply-To: "John H. Rodgers" <inua@QUICKLINK.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: "John H. Rodgers" <inua@QUICKLINK.NET>
Subject: Coolant leak(again)
-- [ From: John H. Rodgers * EMC.Ver #2.5.02 ] --
A while back , on my '85 GL, I started having coolant leak problems at the
expansion tank. I would drive a while, Then make a stop, and coolant would
drip on the ground right under the expansion tank. . When I checked it the
tank was wet on the outside, and there was coolant in the tank indent where
the coolant level sensor screws into the tank. After a little more checking,
I replaced the small hose from expansion tank to the overflow tank and made
sure the passageway to the overflow tank was cleare, and cleared the vent on
the overflow tank. I replaced the pressure cap on the expansion tank with a
new one, and checked the expansion tank sensor to be sure it was tight and
topped up the collant. Everything seemed in order.
It ran fine with no leakage for a few miles but has started the same game
again.
It appears that either during warmup after a cold start, or after a highway
run and suddenly getting into slow traffic when the cooling system is not
cooling the coolant efficiently, sthe coolant expands sufficiently to try to
force the overflow cap to open and vent coolant to the overflow tank.
Apparently this is not happening, and the expanded coolant is forcing its
way past the seal on the coolant sensor on the expansion tank.
Is there a simple way to test this. There is the possiblility that the
expansion tank has a crack somewhere that I can't see, that opens up at a
pressure below pressure cap operating pressure, thus allowing some leakage,
but with coolant around the sensor, I doubt it. The system takes coolant
from the over flow tank, but never overflows back into the overflow tank.
I am constantly adding coolant to the overflow tank, but I am loosing it to
due to the leak. It never flows past the expansion tank cap back into the
overflow tank. The coolant I use is the dreaded green stuff made by Texaco
--- but it says on the container its specifically for aluminum engines.This
was in the van when I got it. I still use the same brand. It's been 5 years
and this is the only trouble I have ever had with coolant leaks.
Comments would be appreciated.
John Rodgers
'85 GL Driver