On Sat, 1 May 2004, walt spak wrote:

> I have never used VW Autobahn brand coolant so I won't comment on it.  I
> have used a couple of major brand phosphate free "orange" coolants.  My
> experience with them is that they find leaks all over the place.  Every time
> you turn around, you find a different hose connection or thermostat housing,
> or something else leaking.  I have since just returned to using a major
> brand "green" coolant and the leak problems have gone away.

Very interesting!  I put the orange stuff in my '82 and didn't see any new
leaks.  It does make leaks very easy to find, though -- the stuff stays
bright orange even after it dries.

Coolant leaks can be kind of stealthy.  I have one on my Volvo where
coolant is seeping between a hose and a fitting.  My guess is the fitting
is dirty or corroded under the hose, since tightening the clamp hasn't
entirely cured the problem.  It never leaks enough to see any liquid, but
you can see white deposits around the hose and the car smells faintly of
coolant when hot.  The level in the reservoir will *gradually* go down --
that, and the occasional tiny steam curl from the fitting in cold weather
are the only ways I know there's an actual leak.  I bet there are Vanagons
out there that have half a dozen of these 'invisible leaks' going on.

David Brodbeck, N8SRE
'86 Volvo 240DL wagon
'82 VW Vanagon Westfalia Diesel