Had me wondering, just where DO you get these diesel carrier bars-other than a wrecked/junked diesel Vanagon of course. I've seen ads on Samba, but always the "less desirable" early ones ('81-'82?) Then just this morning right outside Leesburg, VA. is a white Vanagon Westy sitting on the shoulder, with two guys standing behind it. I, of course, had to pull over to see if I could help (although I was in my Chevy Astro). Turns out it was a diesel, and it was overheating. I'd never really seen a diesel Vanagon engine bay up close before ( seriously) and it was the first time I saw how the engine carrier bars mount-now it all makes sense in my feeble mind! I have no idea what year this Vanagon is. Anyway, the only suspicious thing I noticed was the coolant tank had a regular metal radiator cap on it-I don't know diesels, but I'd bet money that ain't the original cap! Every time the guy would start it, it would force coolant out from around that cap. I told the guy that I didn't think that was the proper cap, and he replied "Yeah, but it's been running like that for a couple of days" Hmmmm, ok, but it's not now, right? When I first pulled up he was adding Marvel Mystery Oil to it, I don't know why/how he thought that was going to help. Hate to say it, but there could be my diesel donor right there. I had to go, but I drove back by 1/2 hour later and the van was sit sitting there, the two guys were gone. I drove around Leesburg a bit trying find them to offer them a lift to where ever they could get some help/parts, whatever, but I didn't see them.     

Jeff Stewart