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Subject:50/50 water/coolant ratio
From:michael schiesser
Date:Sun, 27 Aug 2000 18:31:43 -0700

John, I used to always mix coolant with water, especially in the summer to
increase the heat capacity of the fluid, but my a vanagon mechanic told my
always to use straight stuff, and thats waht I've been running on for years.
(not to say I haven't had any probs with the cooling system, I ahve had lots
of them. Does anybody have a solid recc on what are the conseqences of a
100% coolant ration vs 50/50 water.

I'm also interested in the recent posting on the non-aqueous coolant that
?decreases head corrosion?

Michael Schiesser
89 Westfalia
Seattle WA
Coolant to water ratio is out of balance. I can't say enough about this.
>You
>have to have the right amount of coolant in the water for the resistance
>between
>the contacts on the low water level sensor to be correct for proper
>operation of
>the sensor and warning light. Of the top of my head, I think I recall that
>it
>must be a 50-50 ratio. If the coolant is old, it can have it's effect.
>
>Coolant is no place to be chincy on the Vanagons. It's not THAT expensive,
>and
>good coolant helps keep the internal working of the cooling system free of
>corrosion and increases the life of the coolant pump. I now use
>bio-degradable
>DexCool (orange color) in mine - good for two years - , and I bleed the
>system
>with the tail end up. Procedure works great for me, and I don't have to
>hassle
>the bleeder valve up front.
>
>Hope this helps a bit.
>
>John Rodgers
>88GL Driver.
>