Date:         Fri, 24 Apr 1998 17:31:10 -0700
Reply-To:     Peg Piwonka <mcp2@CORNELL.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Peg Piwonka <mcp2@CORNELL.EDU>
Subject:      Coolant leak puzzle mostly solved!
Comments: To: vanagon@vanagon.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

                        Not the BIG leak puzzle, just my little individual problem. But there is
still a little bit of a puzzle to solve here.
        The coolant leak dripping under the right side of my engine has gone now
that I replaced the small plastice bleeder valve on the rear heat
exchanger.  Strangly this rather simple repair has caused me some
frustration and confusion.
        I ordered the replacement valve and Gasket from Ron and VW and they
arrived on the same day.  VW was a rush order Ron was not.  Go Ron!  Anyway
I confidently placed the gasket on the new bleeder valve and screwed it
into place, started up the engine and... it still leaked!  The rubber
gasket kept squishing out around the valve even when turned gently.  This
is a thumb screw.  I used know tools.  Finally,  Peggy said try it without
the gasket.  I gave her a funny look and told her why that wouldn't work.
Then I tried it, started it up and... No Leak!  What is going on here!?!
        Is anyone else running this part without a gasket?  Can anyone suggest a
better gasket, Ron and VW are stumped.
        We went about 500 miles from here to North Adams Mass. and back with no
leak from the valve.  I don't get it.
        Anyway I still smell a bit of coolant burning I hope it is just the old
coolant but the level did drop from max to min during the 500 mile trip.
        Tips wanted!

Eric

Eric and Peggy
84 Westfalia Wolfsburg, GL
Ithaca NY