Ben,

Thanks for your post!

I have a new tank in my 84 westy, which was installed along with new larger
coolant lines, which are required for the 2.1L configuration and a new
radiator as well.  Since the new motor, and cooling system install last
year, my van always runs cooler then ever before, with the gage 2mm below
the warning LED...

Well, this weekend, I took it on a short camping trip, and after a 20 mile
trip, I stopped the van when I walked around the rear, coolant was pouring
out of it!!!  I through all the crap in the back to the center lifted the
lid, but the coolant leak had stopped.  I feared that my water pump failed,
but saw fresh coolant on the rim of the expansion tank. My overflow tank was
full to the proper line, but the expansion tank was down 2 inches???  I
tightened the cap on the expansion tank, and drove it another mile to the
camp ground.  By the time I got to the camp ground the gage returned to the
normal cooler position, and the overflow tank was almost empty, thus filling
the expansion tank.  And, best of all, no more leaks!

Strange, why would the cap seal leak at pressure instead of putting the
extra coolant into the overflow tank?  The rest of the trip went without
problems, and it ran cool once again.  I'll replace the coolant and monitor.
I thought that the expansion tank coolant cap would relieve pressure to the
overflow tank.  Should I look into getting a replacement cap?  Does the cap
ever malfunction?

Jack R.
84 Westy

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Benny boy
Sent: Sunday, October 07, 2007 11:40 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: The Expansion tank story

I thought i should officially post this one, even if i just replied with
that link on another post.

That page was lost on my computer, like many other pages.

My camera is my weapon.

http://www.benplace.com/vw_expansion_tank.htm

Not much to say on the subject, i hope pictures speak.

Ben