Date: Tue, 20 Sep 2011 22:50:28 -0700
Reply-To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject: Re: 85-H20 loss of coolant mystery
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It does sound like exhaust gases getting into the coolant to me..
usually at the heads/head gaskets.
it's even semi -common.
those bubbles going into the pressure bottle...
shouldn't ever be any there once it's been running and is well filled with
coolant.
one test is to have the air space at the top of the coolant pressure bottle
sniffed with a smog tester probe..
if there's any HC, there's your problem.
There's also a 'block tester' system you can buy a kit for ..
the coolant changes color if exhaust gases are present in the coolant.
Waterboxer head gaskets should be done about every 80,000 miles/ 8 years or
so.
Due to corrosion that can happen to the cylinder head studs..
I don't think it's even smart to leave the heads untouched for years and
years.
Same for corrosion that can happen to the bottom of the cylinder heads..
and waterboxer heads are not like normal cylinder heads where you can just
get the bottom resurfaced.
( it's possible...but not as easily as normal heads are resurfaced . )
Sounds like you should do the heads..or at least do one side and see what
you learn doing that.
The little green o-rings that keep coolant away from the metal combustion
sealing rings at the top of the barrels........you'll find those brittle and
hard and doing nothing.
nice to see your post !
Scott
www.turbovans.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Travis Newhouse" <travisnewhouse@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, September 20, 2011 9:23 PM
Subject: 85-H20 loss of coolant mystery
> Hi. I just joined the list, and I thought I'd send my first post
> about a topic that I'm sure has been covered many times. :)
>
> I have searched the archives and the Web, but I've not yet found
> understanding of my problem. I thought I'd seek collective knowledge
> of this list.
>
> I have an 1985 Westfalia with gasoline engine. I am having some
> issues with loss of coolant that I am trying to understand. I do not
> see any noticeable drips or leaks with engine running or not. I
> suspect that hot, expanded gas is displacing the coolant. I
> appreciate any advice. I have bled the system several times, but
> while running, I can see bubbles in the expansion tank.
>
> I can drive at highway speeds (60+ mph) for quite some time - at least
> 70 miles once. The temperature needle stays right in the middle of
> the gauge (over the red warning light). The warning light stays off.
> But, when I exit the highway, the temperature starts to rise. While
> idling at a signal, or low-speed cruising, the temperature needle will
> quickly reach the top of the gauge and the red light starts flashing.
>
> After the light starts blinking and the needle pegs, if I check the
> expansion tank before I shut off the engine, I see the coolant level
> is 0.5-1.0 cm below the MIN mark. After I shut off the engine, the
> coolant level rises up to about the MIN mark. After the engine is
> completely cool, the coolant level is about 2-3 cm above the MIN mark.
> All the while, the coolant level in the overflow tank is unchanged.
>
> I've tried to bleed the system several times. It seems that after a
> bleeding it, when the temp reaches the top of the gauge, then I will
> see coolant over-flowing out of the 3 holes on the top of the overflow
> tank. So, I suspect that even after bleeding, some gas is entering
> the system and causing expansion that forces the coolant out of the
> expansion tank and into the overflow tank.
>
> I have seen people describe similar problems while at highway speed,
> but I seem to be experiencing the opposite - highway speed is fine,
> but idling or low-speed cruising causes the temperature to spike.
>
> I am not sure where to start looking for gas entering the cooling system.
> - Is it normal to see bubbling in the expansion tank at idle or while
> revving the engine?
> - My understanding is that the water pump creates pressure in the
> system, and so I don't expect a leaky hose or connection should cause
> gas to enter the system while driving (but maybe upon cool down).
> Since I'm experiencing air bubbles while running, I'm concerned it
> could be exhaust gas, but I'm wondering if there are other sources for
> gas to enter?
> - What are the easiest to most difficult tests to perform to search
> for the source of gas in the system?
>
> Thank you,
> Travis Newhouse
> Encinitas, CA
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