Thanks to all that have given input on this...
 I did replace the cap with a new one when I replaced the last hose.
The engine does not seem to be losing coolant, until the hoses blow,
but I have not been able to drive it enough to tell. The coolant light
only blinks after a blow. After hose replacement, I have been bleeding
the system according to the manual then letting it idle to warm up. It
heats up to about 1/2 way on the indicator and seems to hold there.
When I drive it, it does fine for a few minutes but as soon as I go up a
hill a hose blows. One of the hoses had about a 3" tear in it.  It looks
like more damage than 12 or 13 lbs of pressure would cause. I am
assuming that I need to replace this last hose and bleed the system
again before I try the burp test.
Jack

Jim Felder wrote:
> I agree that it's good insurance to replace all those hoses, but
> given what's going on with Jack's engine, it's just too weird that
> the old hoses are choosing to pop in sequence every time he drive it.
> I have 25-year-old hoses on my diesel, and the only time they have
> been a problem is when the engine had an overheating problem. On my
> 90, yes, two in the same hot summer signaled that some hose attention
> was due, but this everyday thing points to a problem that need to be
> fixed.
>
> Jack, are you losing coolant (obviously when the hoses blow you are,
> but are you losing it day to day?) Has your coolant light been
> blinking? Dennis' advice to replace the cap is ten bucks well spent.
> But to determine if you have a head leak, do this:
>
> Let the van sit overnight, or at least during the day until you know
> the engine is cold. Start it up and shut it off after thirty seconds.
> Go quickly to the engine compartment and remove the cap from the
> plastic tank. Does it burp? If it does, you've got a head leak,
> because running that short time won't warm the system to create
> pressure from normal heating. When you do that, look in at the
> coolant (though this may not work for a system that's been refilled
> as many times as yours has lately) and see if it looks dirty, or if
> the surface is discolored. If combustion gases are reaching the
> coolant from a leaking head, the coolant will show it.
>
> If your engine passes the burp test, and you've got a new cap, then
> you either have a stuck thermostat (I've had several, including a
> very strange metal failure on my wife's Acura's thermostat that
> caused all kinds of problems) or you have a stopped up radiator. If
> the problem came on quickly, it's probably not the radiator. For the
> price of a thermostat, and the fact that they are easy to change if
> the screws into the plastic housing are not rusted away, it's worth
> trying before going any further.
>
> Unless you failed the burp test. Then it's head/head gasket time.
>
> Jim
>
> On Mar 8, 2007, at 11:14 AM, Marty Kulmus wrote:
>
>> Could also be time to replace all of the hoses. You may be finding the
>> weakest link in the cooling system, replacing it and then finding
>> the next
>> weakest. It is expensive replacing all but gives great peace of
>> mind. When
>> were they replaced last? I have an 87 and they were factory until
>> last year.
>> That adds up to 20 years old in my case, way to old. (for a hose)
>>
>>
>>
>> Marty
>>
>>
>>
>> PS If you have the spring style clamps, buy the clamp compressor
>> with the
>> long cable on it, it will save you a lot of time and frustration.
>>
>>
>>
>> M
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>>
>> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
>> Behalf Of
>> Dennis Haynes
>>
>> Sent: Thursday, March 08, 2007 4:52 AM
>>
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>>
>> Subject: Re: 84 Vanagon Bursting Coolant Hoses
>>
>>
>>
>> I would start by replacing the pressure cap. Bad thermostat should be
>> obvious by the gauge reading. Is the system properly bleed after
>> the hose
>> replacements? Very likely you have combustion gasses getting into the
>> coolant system. Either loose or cracked heads. Some diagnostics are
>> needed
>> to correct this. Also, make sure radiator fan is working if doing city
>> driving or extended idling.
>>
>>
>>
>> Dennis
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>>
>> From: Jack Loranger
>>
>> Date: Thursday, March 8, 2007 1:43 am
>>
>> Subject: 84 Vanagon Bursting Coolant Hoses
>>
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>>
>>
>>
>>> Hi all,
>>
>>> I have an 84 water-cooled gas engine Vanagon that has been blowing
>>
>>> coolant hoses one after another.
>>
>>> First it was the lower water pump hose, I replaced it and took a test
>>
>>> drive and blew one of the transmission coolant hoses, replaced it,
>>
>>> then went for a short drive and one of the large upper hoses blew. I
>>
>>> am afraid to keep going this way. Could it be a stuck thermostat or
>>
>>> something that I should be looking for?
>>
>>> Thanks for your help.
>>
>>> Jack
>>
>>> Washougal, WA
>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>