---- Original message ----
>Date: Sun, 28 Aug 2005 19:09:07 -0400
>From: Aaron Robinson <lists@MYCOMMUNITYNET.NET>
>Subject: Expansion tank cap operation...
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>
>Hello all.
>
>First, I just purchased my first Westfalia...a brown '85
automatic. Overall,
>it's a good vehicle, but there are a few questions that I
have. How does $2500
>for a dirty, but functional Westy sound?
>
>So, here are my issues so far...
>
>1) I was trying to figure out the hot running. So I started
to bleed/fill the
>cooling system and noticed when filling the radiator from the
front (I
>know...not bentley procedure) that the expansion tank cap
would pour out
>coolant through the cap nipple even though there was very
little pressure on
>it. Is this normal, or should it hold a lot more pressure
than that. Can I just
>temporarily clamp off the hose that goes to the other
expansion tank?
>

It's not clear to me how you're filling the radiator from the
front, but it sounds like your pressure cap is bad.  It should
only let coolant move to the overflow tank when the
temperature and pressure get up to operating levels.
  DO NOT clamp off the hose that goes to the overflow tank;
that would cause too much pressure to build up.

Larry A.