My guess is your Rad. cap is bad. Not holding much pressure.
The second guess is your compression is leaking in to the cooling
system. Rad. caps are cheap. Ether way you have a problem that should be
fixxed before driving any further.

            Eric                   86-VW4x4
            vw4x4@fyi.net          72-240z
            Pittsburgh, PA USA     1936-Chrysler

On Sun, 9 Jan 2000, David Clark wrote:

> Seeking some ideas
> Each year with a fully loaded camper I have to climb Mountain passes, so we
> are talking 2nd gear, 20-25mph for 20 minutes - half an hour.  The
> temperature gauge goes from the left side of warning light (normal) to the
> right side but never off the gauge whilst climbing.  If I stop when the road
> levels out usually to pay a road toll, or slow down for the customs post -
> clouds of steam appear from the back as coolant overflows from the pressure
> cap onto the exhaust.  Similar scenario daily basis on holiday - empty
> vehicle except for passengers, mountain climbing 10 mins max, 1st gear loose
> gravel (could do with syncro).  Get to house level ground engine still
> running but coolant spills out onto exhaust - loads of steam.
> On neither occasion does the gauge read hot, and cooling fan only comes on
> when on level and engine ticking over.
>
> Theory water pump cannot cope pushing water up to radiator when camper is on
> steep incline?  Water boils in engine because of heat build up - very hot
> water not reaching radiator? Any thoughts similar situations from the list?
> Any way of solving?
>
> The rest of year cooling no problem, have replaced pump / pipes / flushed
> radiator this has happened every year for last 4 years, over 50k miles.
>
> David Clark
> 1985 VW Autosleeper VHT 1.9 2WD
> www.soft.net.uk/vwt2oc
> (see members rides)
> 1960 Humber Super Snipe Estate 3L
> www.humberonia.freeserve.co.uk
> 1988 Fiat Uno 1.1L automatic (wife's)
>