I agree. 
  I find it hard to sympathize with anyone that ignored warning lights and then continued on, to the destruction of the engine.  
  As a matter of fact, this is exactly how I have obtained many VW's over the years.  It's easier for me to buy the PO out of their problems, than to offer expensive repairs.  No-one likes expensive repairs, myself included.
  As an engine builder for many years, I have no problem overhauling any engine, unless the PO damaged it to the point of no return.  Then the core value drops to zero.  That's their dumb mistake. not mine.  I know better, and heed warning lights and sounds.  Trying to 'just get it to the next exit/ service station/ home or where-ever', is almost always a mistake.
  If the coolant dropped suddenly, it went somewhere!  Now to locate the leak, whether internal or external.
  John Muir's 'Idiot manual" contains many of these basic maintenance principles, and they apply to every vehicle, not just the ACVW's that it was written for......read and heed!

Mike B.
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: mark drillock 
  To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM 
  Sent: Wednesday, December 16, 2009 11:02 AM
  Subject: Re: Telemetry (was Re: Coolant pressure test... video.)

  So, the early warning flashing coolant level led alerted you of the hose
  fault well in advance of damage but you were unprepared to deal with it
  and pressed on until you almost cooked your engine. And this is the
  fault of VW? You really think another sensor twice removed from the
  actual fault would have been better than the one you paid insufficient
  heed to? By the time an oil temp reading would go up very much the heads
  and head gaskets would be way too hot. I agree that it is a weakness to
  have the (2.1 -2wd) temp gauge sensor in plastic external to the engine
  (though there is nothing unusual about this in newer VW and various
  other makes). It assumes coolant flowing in the system and drivers
  ignore the coolant level warnings at their peril.

  Likewise the alternator led, should it come on while driving. Same belt
  turns the water pump so if the belt fails the alternator light comes on.
  Some people think, oh, not charging, better not drive too far on just
  the battery. In reality these warning indicators mean STOP STOP!!!

  Mark

  Greg Potts wrote:
  >
  >
  > At the core of all this though, there is a problem I am wondering how to
  > solve... The telemetry that VW designed to monitor conditions in our
  > engines is TERRIBLE!!! And as it ages it is not getting better.
  >
  ................