Felix Martel wrote: > > I have a strange problem: > > My '86 Syncro Westy tends to accumulate air in the cooling system. I > regularly have to bleed air from the radiator and I have to bleed air from > the primary coolant tank just about every time I take her out, even for a > short drive. > > After about fifteen minutes of running time (either moving or idle), air > accumulates in the primary reservoir and the idiot light comes on at the > temperature gauge (which shows normal temp.). To remedy the situation, I > have to open the engine cover and loosen the cap a little on the tank to let > the air out and siphon coolant back in from the overflow. If I don't do > this, the overflow eventually - you guessed it - overflows and the primary > tank can become completely empty. > This is called the Vanagon Syndrome, the head gasket problem. I had the problem on my 83 westy starting at 30k miles. At 60k miles I finally got VWoA to confess that it was a factory problem and they agreed to pay 75% of the repair cost to fix it. They replaced both the cylinder heads for me and I paid about $600. Your symptom is exactly what I had before. Sorry, that's a bad news. Talk to your dealer and describe it to them and they will verify it for you. David Kao 83 westy 84 Vanagon |
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