why does coolant loss cause engine damage?  i had catastrophic pipe
failure, but stopped before the engine temp went up.  i knew my pipe was
close to failure, and stopped as soon as the light started to blink.  i
had to run the engine a few times before the coolant went back in (to
manuever it to the tow truck, and to get it in the garage), but the temp
gauge never went above normal.

aaron
'87 syncro gl
 

-----Original Message-----
From: Dennis Haynes [mailto:dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET] 
Sent: Saturday, May 21, 2005 3:40 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Joy Hecht's problem's solved?

There is no buzzer for the cooling system. She lost the coolant and
continued to drive until the engine was so hot it also lost oil
pressure. Major coolant loss will always cause some engine damage.
Check-inspect hoses and belts regularly and check coolant and oil levels
at every 1-2 fill ups. Look for and fix slow leaks. If you are adding
coolant, you are adding corrosion.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of Rocket J Squirrel
Sent: Saturday, May 21, 2005 5:25 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Joy Hecht's problem's solved?

On 5/19/2005 11:38 AM Joy Hecht wrote:

<snip>

>Unfortunately yesterday I had an old coolant hose leak on the highway
in Indiana, and by the time the buzzer alerted me to the van overheating
I'd blown my engine.
>
<snip>

Poor Joy. Is she having trouble, or what?

In the interest of learning from the experience of others, is there
anything a fellow can do if his Vanagon springs a major coolant leak
like that? Her buzzer (does my 84 have one? I don't think so) sounded
too late to prevent conversion of engine into scrap metal.

--

Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
71 Type 2: the Wonderbus
83.5 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana") KG6RCR