If you need to regularly add coolant, you have a problem that needs to
be corrected. The leak back there could be the water pump, a hose, or
the external head gasket. A water pump leak will be obvious if you look
at the weep hole with a flashlight. If there is evidence of a big trail
there is the problem.

A water pump leak needs to be addressed as some of that leakage will get
into the outer bearing. This can cause a catastrophic pump failure. This
type of failure results in engine case damage and under the right
conditions, an engine trauma. Of course there will be the side of the
road WP change or the towing hassle.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of Jim Felder
Sent: Saturday, March 25, 2006 12:54 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Water pump cold-weather question

My 90 vanagon has been used only a little this winter, but whether I
park it inside or out, I see at least a little bit of coolant under the
water pump.

It doesn't lose enough to make it run hot, and I keep the coolant
topped up anyway.

I haven't investigated thoroughly enough to determine where it's
leaking from, but I'd like to know if it's time to order a water pump.
Here are the symptoms:

Throughout the winter, slight leak of coolant from waterpump area.

Drove 1000 miles last week to the gulf and back. It was warmer (70s)
down there, and I experience no leak, no drop in coolant.

I've been back for two days and it's been down into the thirties at
night, and I've seen a puddle both days.

Does this sound like a water pump seal?

Thanks,

Jim