The answer is yes it will pressure the front of the van too.

Doing a pressure test is the right thing to do.
I'd say you could push it a little further than 14psi, not too much further,
but a little.

the front heater core and the radiator are in quite different compartments.
If it's the front heater core leaking, you sure should smell 'some anti-frz
smell sometimes.'

( Also,  it's quite normal for rear heater cores to be leaking ..
and you might be able to smell that sometimes...or that could even be what
your leak is. )

if it's the radiator ...you probably won't smell it inside the van.

I suggest to all my clients to smell in the left rear upper air intake vent
every time  you get out of the van .after driving ........the tiniest leak
of a-frz will be pretty apparent there if it's on the engine anywhere. So
will raw fuel, or burnt oil, be very apparent with the ole sniffer there.

fwiw ..I don't think I've ever seen a later model radiator leak. They mainly
just won't remove heat that well after a while.   Might check that the bleed
valve screw on the rad is tight and not leaking.

Scott
www.turbovans.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "Steven Johnson" <sjohnso2000@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2011 8:02 AM
Subject: Possilbe coolant leak in heater core vicinity

> Hi all,
>
> I think I have a coolant leak in the vicinity of the heater core or the
> radiator.   I
> have a 91 Westy 2.1L 2WD Manual Transmission.   I'd like to know if I do a
> pressure
> test @ 14 PSI at the expansion tank blue cap cold, well this pressure show
> up
> at the front of the cooling system?   Or is there a better way to check
> for
> leaks up front?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Steven
>
> 91 Westy