Date: Wed, 18 Mar 1998 08:11:19 -0900
Reply-To: "Kevin J. Turinsky" <turinsky@JUNO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: "Kevin J. Turinsky" <turinsky@JUNO.COM>
Subject: Request for Advice: Coolant Change,
and Oil Cooler O-ring and Coolant Flange Change.
Hi Volks:
Thanks to ALL for the conversations on MIN vs. MAX and on oil filter
differences. I leaned a bunch. Now on to preparing for the job of COOLANT
CHANGE!!!!
I've collected a bunch of info on change methods from the archives. I'll
probably use a combination of flushing techniques. (Assemble the Vanagon
vertically like the space shuttle onto 12-ton jack-stands, get naked,
remove every single hose I can find, stand on my ear, suck on the tube,
whilst employing the family dog or 15lb- "heater cat" to keep the RPM's
up and turn the heater controls to scorch, etc. Sounds like a
no-brainer!)
THE SITUATION:
The P.O.of my Syncro has had the dreaded "green-stuff" in the cooling
system for about 2-3 years. Now, the vehicle only has a little more than
18,000 miles on it, of which probably less than 1000-1500 miles were put
on in the last two years. Therefore, that coolant has just been sitting
in the system, not circulating very much. The coolant in the FILL tank is
still very green, no scum, rust, discoloration, etc. But who know exactly
how much evil it has done to my system. I'd like to know. (Since it's
been idle for so long, ALL the fluids are going to be replaced. This is
just the beginning.)
I'm considering removing the radiator and flushing it, separately from
the rest of the cooling system, with a MILD radiator flush. (I got this
one from the archives.)
***What's your favorite MILD radiator flush. (Since the vehicle has such
low miles I doubt it needs something excessively caustic.)***
Am I going to create more problems by removing the radiator, or should I
just skip the flush, figure the system is pretty clean and go on from
there? I know I'd feel better if I really knew more about the condition
of the inside of that radiator...so I'll probably end up taking it out
and flushing it so I can get a better idea of how clean it is. I'll be
able to clean up the outside of it too. (Archives again)
Since I'll have the coolant and oil out, I figured I change the O-ring
between the oil cooler and block, and the coolant flange and gasket.
(Thanks Tim Smith, Joel Walker, and others) Is this pretty
straight-forward or am I going to need lots of extra time, should I do
one before the other, do I need special tools, am I going to need to
replace anything else in the process of changing these two items...
...are there any other questions to ask?
I'm trying to get things all together before Friday so I can start this
thing Friday after work and still have the rest of the weekend to work on
it. Hopefully this project won't take me an entire month to complete like
everything else seems to.
Thanks Volks!
Kevin Turinsky
turinsky@juno.com
'89 Syncro Westie
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