It's hotter than hell around here, as I imagine it is in much of the
hemisphere. I have recently noticed that after I park the car and
turn the engine off, after 10 or 20 seconds I hear gurgling from the
coolant reservoir. The one time I bothered to look I didn't see much
going on except the main tank (which was full) trying to take in
water from the expansion tank, which was dry.

I added water and still it gurgled, presumable it needed more to
"catch up" than what I put in. So, yesterday I added more.

It still gurgles. Checked cool, the reservoir is completely full
without a bubble. The car doesn't overheat (doesn't even get above
the coolant light) except in a long line in direct heat with the AC
on, and the coolant light operates as if the system is normal. The
recent addition of water was the first time I have added any since
January. There is no odor or antifreeze inside or outside the car
that I can detect.

Is this something that I have just now noticed that's been going on
all seventeen years of ownership, and I just never noticed it before?
Do other Vanagons gurgle like this?

Thanks,

Jim