If you're full to the brim, then the head gaskets are OK.  I just replace my
sensor, which started leaking a month ago, and gradually got worse.  Turns
out the sucker was nearly cracked all the way through.  If I had tried to
drive anywhere serious with it, I wouldn't have gotten very far.

Karl Wolz
----- Original Message -----
From: "Gregg Howald" <ghowald@HOTMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, January 25, 2000 11:41 AM
Subject: Coolant Leak around Sensor in Reservoir

> I have a problem with coolant leaking from around the Coolant Level Sensor
> in the reservoir tank.  It happens regularly when the engine is under
load,
> ie, driving uphill, city traffic etc.  It is getting to be more of a
problem
> as of lately - losing more and more coolant overnight.  The obvious answer
> may be to replace the sensor, but I was wondering about the potential for
an
> underlying problem - the dreaded head gasket scenario.  One item to note
is
> that the reservoir tank is full to the brim and always has been, is this
> normal???
> The hypothesis proposed by my local parts supplier  - if the head gasket
has
> been compromised, compression may be leaking into the water jacket and
> causing backpressure into the coolant tank, thus forcing the leak.  I am
not
> noticing any leakage elsewhere or loss of coolant.
>
> So, two questions:
>
> First, is the full reservoir tank a normal situation?
> Second, could it be that replacing the sensor is all that is in order?
>
> Thanks, and crossing my fingers hoping for the best,
>
> Gregg
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