Date: Thu, 1 May 2008 16:37:17 -0400
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Antifreeze smell when you turn on Heater?
In-Reply-To: <6fcb48d30805010515yd2eadb6lb3d0d51ecc11dc8d@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed
Air getting inot the coolant system is not what is turning on the light.
Coolant is getting out. Now air or conbustion gasses getting in especially
when the enigne is cold can force coolant out when it gets war but
ultimatley, it is the loss of coolant causing the problem.
A comon cause of colant loss is a defective pressure cap. If the system can
not be maintained under pressure than various driving conditions will cuase
coolant to burp out of the over flow tank. Once the 2.1 cooling system is
primed enough to work, it will take care of itself and finish bleeding if
needed on its own. If you do not know when the cap was last replaced, do so
or at least test it. An easy test is checking if the coolant hoses get hard
as the engine warms up. If not or squezzing ahose pushes colant out of the
pressure tank, then the cap is shot. If the cap is good and you still have
mysterious coolant loss, combustion gases from loose or cracked heads is the
usual cause of grief. Yes, other leaks in the system can allow air in but
again that is not a problem unitl enough coolant dissapears.
Dennis
>From: Jim Johnston <inmytree1@GMAIL.COM>
>Reply-To: Jim Johnston <inmytree1@GMAIL.COM>
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Re: Antifreeze smell when you turn on Heater?
>Date: Thu, 1 May 2008 08:15:08 -0400
>
>I'm having the same issue (antifreeze smell) in my 1991 GL. I'm also
>experiencing the dreaded "flashing red coolant light" because Air is
>getting into the cooling system. But the light doesn't always come on. My
>question is, are they related? Does a bad heater core allow air into the
>system or should I be looking elsewhere? I've done a pressure test via the
>bicycle pump and the system seemed to hold pressure and no obvious leaks
>were found.
>
>Jim
>Wilmington, NC
>
>
>On Fri, Apr 25, 2008 at 9:56 AM, Kenneth Wilford <kenwilfy@comcast.net>
>wrote:
>
> > It sounds like your front heater core is going bad. We are having a
> > special on these this month for $199. Plus I have the clips you are
> > going to need to put the housing back together with, and the front
> > blower motor as well. If you have to pay to have a mechanic to replace
> > your front heater core you might as well get the blower fan replaced at
> > the same time since there is no extra time required. Let me know if I
> > can help you further.
> >
> > Ken Wilford
> > John 3:16
> > www.vanagain.com
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Jamie Fitterer wrote:
> >
> > > My 1984 Westy has a funnyn thing going on. When you turn on the heat
>in
> > > the vehicle you can start to smell antifreeze. I am wondering if
>someone
> > > has had this before and if this is pointing to something serious. I
>have it
> > > going in to a VW mechanic today for a regular tune-up and oil change
>and
> > > thought I would check with all of you if anyone knows what might be
>the
> > > culprit and save me some trouble shooting cash.
> > >
> > > Thanks in advance. "Prohibition will work great injury to the cause
>of
> > > temperance. It is a species of intemperance within itself, for it goes
> > > beyond the bounds of reason in that it attempts to control a man's
>appetite
> > > by legislation, and makes a crime out of things that are not crimes. A
> > > Prohibition law strikes a blow at the very principles upon which our
> > > government was founded."
> > >
> > >
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