Date: Thu, 14 May 1998 15:02:38 -0500
Reply-To: "John H. Rodgers" <inua@QUICKLINK.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: "John H. Rodgers" <inua@QUICKLINK.NET>
Subject: Re: Coolant Leak from Coolant Reservoir
-- [ From: John H. Rodgers * EMC.Ver #2.5.02 ] --
I have the same problem.
There are two tanks. One is the expansion tank, the other the
overflow/refill tank. The former has a pressure cap with a vent line on it
over to the overflow tank. The overflow tank is vented to atmosphere. You
really can't overfill the expansion tank. When the thermostat opens and the
coolant begins to expand due to heating by the engine, The expanded coolant
has no place to go. Since it is a closed system the increasing pressure of
expanding coolant would blow a hose loose. So at 15 psi the pressure cap is
supposed to open and allow coolant to flow into the overflow tank. When the
engine begins to cool after shutdown, the coolant shrinks, reducing the
pressure and back-suctioning coolant from the overflow tank back into the
expansion tank.
I suspect the seal under the coolant level sensor is leaking or you have a
crack in your expansion tank.
In my van, I have a leak in back that allows coolant to drip onto the
ground. I never get any overflow into the overflow/fill tank, but when the
engine cools it sure pulls coolant out of the overflow/fill tank back into
the expansion tank. This tells me that I have a crack in the tank or a seal
that opens up before the pressure reaches pressure cap operating pressure,
thereby relieving the pressure through the crack and letting the coolant run
onto the ground instead of it going into the overflow tank where it belongs.
So as of today, I am ordering a new tank and a seal for the low coolant
sensor.
Hope this gives insight.
John Rodgers
'85 GL Driver
-------- REPLY, Original message follows --------
Date: Thursday, 14-May-98 12:01 AM
From: DELGADOAJJ \ America On-Line: (DELGADOAJJ)
To: Vanagon \ Internet: (vanagon@vanagon.com)
Subject: Coolant Leak from Coolant Reservoir
Dear listees,
I just noticed a small puddle of coolant on my driveway underneath my van.
I looked in the engine compartment with a flashlight to see where this leak
originated. I could not find any rubber hoses that were bad.
I noticed the coolant was coming directly from underneath the coolant
reservoir. There was a small amount of coolant on the metal base where the
reservoir sits on. I checked all hose connections with this poly tank, but
everything seemed ok. Then I felt on the side of it and, "WALLA", I got my
hand wet with the liquid!
I am not sure if the reservoir has a hole in it or if the coolant was
expelled due to excessive pressure in this system. I did top off the system
to the "max" reading several days ago. But if it was this, "where is the
pressure relief valve?".
How can I confirm that there is nothing wrong with the poly tank, and that
it was just a little bit too much coolant in the system? If I need to
change the reservoir, "is it an easy task?", and "how much is a new
reservoir?".
Please let me know if anyone has had a similar experience.
Thank you in advance!
Jorge
1990 Westy Vanagon Multivan, 56K
-------- REPLY, End of original message --------
