>Date:    Tue, 23 Mar 2004 10:49:16 -0500
>From:    Ben huot <huotx@VIDEOTRON.CA>
>Subject: Re: Help! Problems on the road! Smoke! or something that smells like
>          it, a...
>
>>>>cover and make sure the main coolant tank (the one
>you cannot see from behind the lisc plate)  is FULL.  since some of it poured
>out when you opened it.   that one stays full all the time.   and the one
>behind your lisc plate (expansion tank) should stay at the max level, below
>the cap level...<<<<<
>
>The tank inside the van is the expansion tank, the one behind the plate is
>the refill tank. It's not the end of the world if the refill tank is empty
>and the expension tank is half full, not the way to go but not the end of
>the world, unless your coolant level light is burn.
>
>Still, yes the expansion tank should be kept full and the refill tank
>between the 2 lines.

I have an 85 that loses coolant (about 1 quart per 500 miles -- I
think it has a head gasket leak).   More than once, I've checked the
fluid levels to find the expansion tank 1/2 full, and the refill tank
empty.

I've found that filling both tanks to the limit, then parking on a
steep downhill slope and running the engine at 3000 rpm for a few
minutes with the heater valve open does a decent job of getting the
air out and the coolant in.

I did that today by backing into a construction lot with a dirt
mound.  Got some strange looks from the passers-by, but hey, it's a
Vanagon!

Just doing my job to keep the public informed...

:-)