----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, December 22, 2000 =
8:50
AM
Subject: help! overheating with =
maple
syrup smell
I have had a terrible =
night.
How does a vanagon(84) overheat on =
the coldest
day of the decade at normal highway speed?
Condition: 65 mph interstate =
drive- all is
fine (usual sudden power loss, poor mpg correctedtwice in 50 =
miles by
shutting off engine for a few seconds) That is not a new problem-just =
no cure
yet. Tonight however, suddenly without warning, the oil light =
comes on
very dimly, followed almost immediately by the temp gauge light =
blinking
brightly. The quick decision was to risk engine life or limb and =
move an
extra half mile(handy exit ramp) and then shut her down. More on this
later! By such time, smoke was coming from the rear mainly at =
the air
intakes on the upper body. Dark of night inspection revealed no =
glaring
leaks or fluid loss, coolant level a little lower than usual, oil =
about a
quart low and remedied. I added a little orange coolant but my =
distilled h20
gallon was frozen solid--mental note to start carrying PREMIXED
coolant.
The smoke cleared and the motor =
cooled
extremely fast in the wildly cold temps outside. I restarted to =
see if
the topping off of fluids would correct the problem.
On restart, the temp gauge light =
blinked
again, the temp climbed, climbed, climbed, didn't quit as fluids =
circulated
and I shut her down as she smoked just a tad. Smelled like MAPLE
SYRUP!
Now I have seen the coolant at a =
very low boil
in the hot of summer. It didn't bubble any tonight in the cold. =
Yet the
overheating??
Lastly, it seemed to "smoke" =
mainly from the
left side.That side has an older head and gasket unlike the right but =
got a
new temp senser last year. Could this condition be a thermostat frozen =
up or
malfunctioning? Other suggestions appreciated for my DAILY =
DRIVER.
This is not a hobby car but my bread winner- commute(far) to work =
-stealth
camp between shifts until weekends EVERY WEEK OF THE YEAR westy. I towed the vanagon home this morning on a =
flatbed.
Thanks, =
merry
CHRISTmas
Jay in Wind-iana...brrrr
PS: The westy was not shut down immediately when =
heating for
reasons of safety. There was no shoulder-just a few feet of snow =
the
plow left in place of the shoulder. Personal safety, not =
convenience,
dictated that I had to hit that very close exit. Please no
shouda-woulda-coulda on this point. I work in ER/trauma and know where =
safety
ranks. Jay( husband, daddy of 4.)
I need it on the road.