Date:         Sat, 27 Nov 1999 10:42:43 -0800
Reply-To:     Doktor Tim <doktortim@ROCKISLAND.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Doktor Tim <doktortim@ROCKISLAND.COM>
Subject:      Re: The little red light
Comments: cc: KateMacMac@WORLDNET.ATT.NET
In-Reply-To:  <38400A65.F9A05042@worldnet.att.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

At 11:44 AM 11/27/1999 -0500, you wrote:
>hey all,
 when I noticed
>the little red light for the coolant went on.    Now, earlier this week
>I had a similar situation, and I did top off with some water, and the
>problem was solved.  Today I checked for leaks, I even put an old white
>sheet under her and let her run for at least 45 minutes in the
>driveway.  Her fan went on twice, and I periodically checked for leaks.
>I didn't see anything.
>The water pump is not quite a year old yet, and most of the hoses are
>new.  What else could it be?   Well any
>insight would be most appreciated, I'm new at this game.
>

Welcome to the game. There are several places a leak can occur and not
reach the ground. The upper head nuts, if they begin to weep when hot, will
evaporate all the leakage, so no drips on the ground, as one example.

Do this. Get the universal tool, paperpencil, and apply it. Note all
experience to date. Monitor the addition of coolant required over the next
few weeks/months. Note rate of addition. Note any increasing rate of
addition. By the time you see leaks from hot sources hit the ground, you
are getting very close to billowing steam. Confirm leakage through data
(written observations). When the data is adequet to confirm a problem,
review the data with your mechanic. He now has facts to base his inspection
on and not speculations based upon the vicissitudes of memory.


Doktor Tim
Maintenance Repair and Restoration of European Vehicles
San Juan Island, WA