This id definately not normal. It indicates a leak where the cylinders meet
the heads. This can be cause by improperly torqued heads or strecthed studs.
Poor seating surface.Warped heads or case etc. If you are lucky, the problem
may only be with one head. Have a leakdown test performed while the enigine
is hot. Bypass the gauge set for each cylinder. If only one or two cylinders
send air into the coolant, then just have that head pulled for inspection.
It should be noted that the o-ring at the top of the cylinder is noe the fix
here. All the seating surfaces must be carefully checked for condition and
straitness. I had to repalce cylinders due to eroision on top from past
leaks.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
Of Shawn Wright
Sent: Saturday, May 20, 2000 11:23 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: '89 bubbles in coolant refill tank?

My uncle's '89 2.1l  Wetsy just had an engine rebuild, and now he
is getting bubbles in his refill tank when the engine is hot, and often
the level rises to fill the tank. He's been told by one mechanic that
this is normal, but is of course worried about head gaskets.
Since the van has well over 400k km, he's also worried about the
orginal radiator being plugged, leaking, or both. The van runs fairly
hot, but the gauge drops 3/16" when the heater is left on high.

I've never seen this kind of bubbling on my '88 so I don't think it's
normal... is it?

Shawn Wright, I.T. Manager
Shawnigan Lake School
swright@SLS.bc.ca
http://Zuiko.sls.bc.ca/swright
http://www.sls.bc.ca