Date: Sat, 11 Jul 2015 07:22:41 -0400
Reply-To: Larry Alofs <lalofs@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Larry Alofs <lalofs@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Coolant leak - it was bound to happen
In-Reply-To: <6A377667-F314-48D4-BD92-6E6DAADB2579@NBNET.NB.CA>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
I feel that every owner of a watercooled vanagon should have a way to
pressure test the cooling system. Start with an old expansion tank cap
with the valves torn out. Get some hose that fits the nipple and a tee
which branches to a pressure gauge and a stripped down tire valve stem.
Pump the system up to 15 psi or so and watch the pressure gauge. If it
is not steady, you can start your search. Soap bubbles applied to your
tester would be a good place to begin. Then patient and careful
observation may be needed. Usual suspects on my system are places where I
have foolishly replaced spring clamps with screw type ones during my subie
conversion.
Using this test method I recently found that I have two small leaks from
my '91 vintage radiator, evident only when under pressure.
If you have just been driving your van "around town" for a while this type
of stress-test would be a good idea before any long trip.
Larry A.
On Fri, Jul 10, 2015 at 11:12 PM, Roy Nicholl <RNicholl@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote:
> Thanks Dennis ... things were so much easier with the '66 Westy ... I
> didn't care if coolant leaked ;-)
>
> On 10-Jul-2015, at 23:57, Dennis Haynes wrote:
>
> > Yes it can! They can also tend to leak from lack of use. Leaking pumps
> also
> > add the chance of the coolant contaminating the pump bearings. Sudden
> > bearing failure means a tow home and some creative epoxy or welding work
> to
> > repair the volute in the case from the damage the impeller does when it
> > turns into it. If the damage is bad enough you can end up with an engine
> > that overheats at idle or low speeds as it won't push enough coolant
> through
> > the radiator to get the fan to turn on. Especially automatics that also
> have
> > the ATF cooler as part of the radiator circuit.
> >
> > Dennis
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
> Of
> > Roy Nicholl
> > Sent: Friday, July 10, 2015 8:44 PM
> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > Subject: Re: Coolant leak - it was bound to happen
> >
> > Yes ... I'm in denial about that one too ;-) ... would it leak if the
> engine
> > has not been running?
> >
> > On 10-Jul-2015, at 21:42, Dennis Haynes wrote:
> >
> >> Can also be water pump.
> >>
> >> Dennis
> >>
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
> >> Behalf Of Roy Nicholl
> >> Sent: Friday, July 10, 2015 8:41 PM
> >> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> >> Subject: Coolant leak - it was bound to happen
> >>
> >> All,
> >>
> >> I went out to shift the Hyena ('88 WBX Westy) this evening and found a
> >> small damp spot underneath. A closer look and I see small drips of
> coolant
> > coming
> >> of the rear of the engine (or the rear mount). The van has not been
> >> running in 2+ weeks, and I do not recall the leak prior.
> >>
> >> I check the expansion tank and it was just at the "min" line. I
> >> didn't have time to crawl underneath before dark this evening, but
> >> where the van has not been running, I'm hoping for a loose or cracked
> >> hose at the rear of the engine (AFAIK, the hoses are all original) and
> >> not the gaskets on the jacket.
> >>
> >> An suggestions or bets? As long as it's not the water jacket, I'll be
> >> happy.
> >>
> >> Roy
>
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