Had this problem. Turned out to be a faulty thermostat!

Regards,

John Rodgers
88 GL Driver

Tanja Bomb wrote:

>>>Da bomb is traveling and her van is puking water out of the overflow.
>>>Mechanic found radiator cap bad and replaced and it's still doing it.
>>>
>>>Any ideas beyond head gasket leak into the water system?
>>>
>>>
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>>Under what conditions is it doing it? After climbing a steep grade,
>>after a run on the interstate, around town, all the time, immediately? Can
>>the problem be alleviated by running both heaters?
>>
>>
>
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>I took a drive from Los Angeles to San Francisco, via I-5.  Steepest part of
>the drive is over the Grapevine with an ascent to 4,000 feet.  No problems.
>I was driving for about 3 hours when I pulled over and the temp light
>blinked at me, but the car was not overheating.  The overflow tank was
>puking fluid.  The expansion tank was pretty low, however, there were no
>apparent leaks in the system.  I only have one heater, my front one.  Light
>still blinks even when I have it on.
>
>
>
>>Can you see a stream of bubbles flowing into the reservoir or does it happen
>>pretty much at once?
>>
>>
>
>Please be a little more clear about this question...
>
>
>
>Anyway...
>
>I managed to get it to Terry Griffin, of Griffin Autoworks in Berkeley.
>Very helpful guy; he's on the Vanagon list of recommended mechanics. I can
>see why: he opened his shop to me on a Sunday -- his day off -- to help me
>out. He pressure tested my rad cap, found that it wasn't holding any
>pressure. He got a new one out, tested it and placed it on my vehicle.  He
>then bled my system and I returned to LA.  I saw him do all the procedures
>myself because it was just me and him in the shop.
>
>Exactly 3 hours later, at the same gas station as on the way up, it happened
>again. Same symptoms.
>
>I've had the heads rebuilt at 150,000 miles.  The car now has about 167,000.
>I called Mike from the road because I was totally freaked out and I wanted
>to hear better news than what the symptoms were telling me.  I am out of
>warranty as of 2,000 miles.
>
>I just got home and haven't been able to get it to my mechanic yet.
>Meanwhile, my head is reeling with anxiety.  Please guys, please advise
>here.  I'm still in denial that this could be "worst case scenario".
>
>
>Love and Rockets,
>DaBomb
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