So far, I'm breathing a slight sigh of relief. I obtained a proper blue cap
from my mechanic and all seems well. No more bubbling and boiling over.
History: I bought a VW rebuilt motor from a guy who was doing a diesel
conversion. That was about 5000 miles ago. When I got it, my mechanic
removed the heads and sent them to a machine shop to be checked/tested. Then
he assembled it all with new gaskets etc. I would be  disappointed if it was
anything major this quickly.
Knock on wood  :) Thanks for the replies and help...

Tom
On Sat, Aug 27, 2011 at 8:28 PM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>wrote:

> Having a properly working pressure cap is important for a number of
> reasons.
> However it is common for a cap to be defective and the owner to not even be
> aware of a problem. Because of that I make it a regular habit to test them
> especially on vans I see for the first time. A good cap can also mask
> another problem. You may want to get a test kit to check for combustion
> gasses in the coolant and/or compression leak down test. I recently came a
> across the van with a head crack in an exhaust port. This was a weird one.
> Found by putting back pressure on the exhaust.
>
> Dennis
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Tom Rowsell
> Sent: Saturday, August 27, 2011 3:24 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Coolant Strangeness
>
> That was my thinking too. I decided to "live with it" until I got back
> home.
> The only cap I could find was at Canadian Tire, and it was the wrong one.
> It
> fit but it has no hose connector. After returning home, (next day) I let
> the
> van idle with the original "suspect" cap. After it came up to temperature,
> coolant begin bubbling into the tank from the hose coming from the coolant
> "ring" that encircles the engine lid. Within minutes, it was dumping into
> the tank behind the license plate. Switch to the new albeit wrong cap and
> there were none of those bubbles...everything seemed fine. I'm hoping it's
> only the cap...
> Thanks for the replies and helpful hints everyone...
> Campsite:
>
> http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HrZkatHBWgI/TllCiYu8qxI/AAAAAAAAB3E/A554deR7Rdo/s1
> 600/100_0297+%2528Large%2529.JPG<http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HrZkatHBWgI/TllCiYu8qxI/AAAAAAAAB3E/A554deR7Rdo/s1%0A600/100_0297+%2528Large%2529.JPG>
> On Wed, Aug 24, 2011 at 12:15 AM, levi hawkins <b1levi@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > I can't imagine why anyone would suggest it's okay to plug that outlet
> > on the cap.
> >
> > It's a pressure release design so that your system doesn't build up
> > too much pressure.
> >
> > At least with your current situation you're able to keep on motoring
> > down the road after a brief interlude.
> >
> > That wouldn't be happening so easily if you blow a hose.
> >
> >
> >
> > ________________________________
> > From: Tom Rowsell <86westy@GEOEXPLOITS.ORG>
> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > Sent: Monday, August 22, 2011 2:02 PM
> > Subject: Re: Coolant Strangeness
> >
> > Thanks Scott, of course I have no spare. I suppose plugging the hose
> > outlet on that blue cap is not wise? Is the cap used on any other VW
> > model just in case I find a junkyard ?
> >
> >
> > On 8/22/11, Scott Daniel  - Turbovans <scottdaniel@turbovans.com> wrote:
> > > that blue pressure cap ..
> > > is my first thought.
> > > They are not that reliable.  One should always carry a spare.
> > >
> > > right now, with no further information or test results..
> > > it sounds like ..
> > > either pressure cap is not holding pressure properly .....
> > >
> > > or cooling system pressure is abnormally high ( such as combustion
> > > gases getting into cooling system at the heads or head gaskets ).
> > > If you see bubbles btw...
> > > rising to the surface of the coolant in the pressure bottle
> > > ................unless you are in the process of just filling the
> > > coolant
> > to
> > > start with ..........that is not a good sign.
> > >
> > > if you *always* see a small bubble trail there ...
> > > that's really not a good sign.
> > > Have the air space above the coolant in the main pressure bottle
> > > sniffed with a smog sniffer. If there are excessive HC's there
> > > ....it's a
> > combustion
> > > gases getting into the coolant issue.
> > >  It should not do what you are descibing at all.
> > > Try the cap first though ..
> > > as it's so easy to do, and they are known to be a bit dodgey at times.
> > >
> > > Scott
> > > www.turbovans.com
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "Tom Rowsell" <86westy@GEOEXPLOITS.ORG>
> > > To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> > > Sent: Monday, August 22, 2011 11:08 AM
> > > Subject: Coolant Strangeness
> > >
> > >
> > >> This is likely an FAQ...I'm on the road and searching is awkward
> > >> with cell phone.
> > >> It seems when I drive for an hour or so at highway speed, and stop
> > >> abruptly (to get gas for example) coolant rushes from the left tank
> > >> into the overflow one on the right, sometimes overflowing that one
> > >> onto the ground. In one instance the dash light began to flicker
> > >> and when I pulled over, the right hand tank was full, and the left
> > >> one was down 1/2 litre or so. It's not overheating, but temperature
> > >> rises at idle after a highway run.
> > >> 2.1 litre, recent (last 6 months) new rad, water pump. There are no
> > >> evident leaks, and oil on dipstick looks clean.
> > >> Any suggestions on what to check?
> > >> The needle is generally parked right at the center of the LED...
> > >> Thanks
> > >> Tom
> > >
> > >
> >
>
>