Hi

Thanks all for input.
I found a suitable tank   http://www.evwparts.com/vwparts/025121403A.html

Not OEM or aluminum.   But goes in and works the same.

I am draining oil and carefully  inspect the air filter.

Question -- Is it smart to flush the coolant system before adding new
antifreeze mix?
Flush with fresh? Motor Running?

On Mon, Nov 14, 2011 at 7:11 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans <
scottdaniel@turbovans.com> wrote:

> Hi ..
> buy the welded aluminum tank Van Cafe sells.
> About $ 200.
> I just put one on a Diesel vanagon..works nicely.
> the cap took a lot ( too much really )  of downward hand pressure to get
> it to go on...I had to tweak on the ears of the pressure cap.  I told VC
> about it.
>
> physical repairs to the old bottle are temporary at best, in my experience.
>
> send a picture of your air filter element and we can tell you if it's too
> soaked in a-frz .
> like..how would we know ?
> you're the person by the van.
> and no paper air filter element would be very useable if it got
> well-soaked in any liquid.
>
> if you fill it, run it, fill it some more..
> and keep doing that a while, including running the front heater ...
> Then just let it sit for a good cool-down period ..
> like say 2 to 4 hours...
> you'll see the level in the pressure bottle has dropped from where it was.
> Top it up ..
> run it through another well warmed up cycle..
> then let it sit, like overnight .
> then top up that air space.
> do that 3 or 4 times ...top up he air space at the top of the pressure
> bottle , after a full cool-down ..and it will be plenty bled , assuming
> everything in your cooling system is basically working like it should.
>
> Scott
> turbovans.com
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Frank Lee" <techedteacher@GMAIL.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Sunday, November 13, 2011 10:01 PM
>
> Subject: Diesel na is breathing coolant
>
>
>  Yellow Sub just sprayed coolant over the top of the engine.   On a short
>> drive down the Baltimore 83 Expressway she choked and died, from breathing
>> coolant sprayed and vacuumed into the air intake.
>> The Coolant Expansion Tank  (82 diesel na) has a side seam crack that
>> faces
>> the engine.
>>
>> I followed the recent Coolant Threat and bought Zerex G-05, distilled
>> water
>> and coolant tester.
>> But the proper replacement tank is rare I discovered. Found one OEM for
>> $149 + shipping.
>>
>> Its HDHP --> a thick milk bottle, Right?
>> The crack is on a seam.  So gluing and sealing seams with fiberglass and
>> TAP-
>> Poly Weld <http://www.youtube.com/watch?**v=h-9yhanz5DE<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-9yhanz5DE>>
>> should work I
>>
>> think.    I like the idea of saving the rare part, like welding the oil
>> pan.  Or is it 30 year old brittle?
>>
>> My questions
>> 1)  am I better off just buying the $150 OEM tank?
>>
>> 2)  any experience using Poly Weld?  The youtube is really clear.
>>
>> 3)  Is my new air filter OK after breathing coolant?
>>
>> 4)  point me to basic the step-by-step and precautions to drain, refill
>> and
>> test the coolant system~~ For Dummies and  Novice Mechanics.   Must be
>> flushed, right?   Bleeding?
>>     Is my Bentley Manual good for this?
>>
>> 5)  I have new Van Cafe headlights and relay to install.  Sounds like this
>> is a good project for same time, since bleeding is at the front end.
>> Correct?
>>
>> Frank
>>
>
>