I thought everyone knew that eyeballing the temp gauge every minute or
two while driving a Vanagon is standard operating pprocedure. One better !
  I'm not very worried about the clog factor though ...
I've seen the small opening inthe bottom of the license plate bottle
clog up beforeand that was the only 'real issue' .

And ...
There is also a huge difference between driving around town and locally ..
and being on a long grade in the summer time with a loaded vanagon , or
idling in hot stop-and-go traffic in the summer.
Either of those summer scenarios requires a pretty healthy cooling
system of course.
If the radiator is 15 years old ...it's generally due, in my experience.

Scott

On 3/3/2013 5:13 PM, MICHAEL H wrote:
> Bill - good to know that it went easy for you. although, I am suprised that no one has mentioned keeping an eye on the gauge. whatever glop that clogged the tube may still be coursing through the system eventually making its way to the radiator compromising the cooling. hope this doesn't scare you or jinx the ride - just a heads up for the future. when the time does come ; it's actually a relatively easy job. okay, maybe a little messy for the coolant drain and refill but, survivable.    drive happy         mike, btdt via List referred vendor I don't recall by name right now
>
>
> ________________________________
>   From: Bill MacLachlan <billmacla@GMAIL.COM>
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Sent: Saturday, March 2, 2013 11:15 PM
> Subject: Re: coolant overflow tank
>
> tube from the pressure tank to the refill tank was clogged with guck.
> Cleaned it out: now I have a full pressure tank, and can keep a good eye on
> the coolant level.
> Thanks all!!!!!
>
> Bill M 89 westy
>