The PO of my van had bypassed the heater with a plastic elbow. I discovered
this while traveling and built a replacement from air brake parts from a
truck stop in a fit of desperation in west Texas. Since then it has held up
fine.

This sounds like my fix is a bad idea and I should just cap off the two
lines instead? Wouldn't the route through the heater core produce the same
return of hot coolant to the engine block?

Owen Brand
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Meeks" <jmeeks@GASLIGHTMEDIA.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, July 31, 2003 6:23 PM
Subject: Re: FOLLOW UP MINOR? COOLANT CATASTROPHE HELP NEEDED

> Chris,
> It seems to me that joining the two hoses would create a circuit whereby
hot
> coolant could circulate back to the engine without ever passing thru the
> radiator.
>
> A catastrophic blowout like that happenned to me and it was the plastic
> bleeder valve on the rear heater. The local VW shop (it was still in
> warrantee) replaced it with  what looks like a brass pressure relief
valve.
> Wash off the core really good before you re-connect it or it will STANK..
>
> Best o luck
> John Meeks
> Top of Lower Michigan
> '91 MultiVan
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > So is it better to join the two hoses or cap them? Also should I just
> > try and measure the concentration and add water/coolant as neeed or
> > flush all over again?  Thanks again for all the help.
> >
> > chris  almida
> >
>