Date: Thu, 16 Jul 1998 11:19:20 -0400
Reply-To: "Joe L." <jliasse@EMAIL.MSN.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: "Joe L." <jliasse@EMAIL.MSN.COM>
Subject: Re: overheating??!!
In-Reply-To: <9807152029.AA18369@liberty.mas.vcu.edu>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Had something similar occur. It turns out that I needed to get a new
radiator cap and "Burp" the system due to air in there that caused the
system to fail to pressurize as it should.
At a lower pressure the coolant boiled at a lower temp causing coolant to
be expelled creating a low condition. When this happens your resorvour can
be sucked dry while driving. As soon as you go to idle the coolant is
"pumped" rapidly back into the resovoure so it is hard to catch it empty.
Get someone to bring up the RPM's while you look at the resovour. If you see
anything like I describe try the new cap and a burp.
Of course, it IS possible that this is God getting even for all the nasty
things you said. :)
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:Vanagon@vanagon.com]On Behalf Of Dan
> Resler
> Sent: Wednesday, July 15, 1998 4:30 PM
> To: Vanagon@VANAGON.COM
> Subject: overheating??!!
>
>
> OK, I need some advice - what's going on here?
>
> I was driving along in my '87 Westy yesterday when my red coolant
> light started blinking with the temp gauge at it's normal position. I
> pull over and note that the coolant reservoir is empty and the belts
> are all OK, plus the water pump is definitely spinning. So I fill the
> reservoir and get back on the road.
>
> [Extra important info before I continue: I had my heads done about
> 5000 miles ago, and have about 10000 miles on a new water
> pump. There's no puddles under tha van, plus my fan is working OK (at
> least it kicks on in traffic or after I stop.]
>
> The light is still blinking after a couple of miles, so I pull over
> and check things. The fluid level in the reservoir has dropped
> very little.
> Belts still OK. Hmmmmmm.
>
> I get back on the road and notice that while the red light continues
> to blink, my temp gauge is reading normal. So I gingerly ride the 8
> miles home and park it.
>
> There's no sign (sound or smell) of the engine overheating.
>
> This morning I note that the reservoir is almost empty again, so I
> refill it, fire it up, and hit the road. Within 100 yards the red
> light is blinking again!
>
> So what's happening? The manual says a blinking coolant light means
> low coolant - fill the reservoir! But could the coolant be so low that
> I need to fill it more than once? And what is the process involved in
> the system emptying the reservoir ... how long should that take?
>
> Could there be something more ominous wrong here? Is it save to drive
> the van if the temp gauge is normal but the red light is blinking?
>
> dan
> --
> Dan Resler
>
> Dept. of Mathematical Sciences
> Virginia Commonwealth University
> Richmond, VA
> 23284-2014 USA
> email: resler@liberty.mas.vcu.edu
>
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