If the hose is at the top of the engine, you could probably part the van
pointing nose down (a little slope - just enough to put the top of the
radiator below the engine) and get away with changing it without much
coolant loss.

However, I think the plastic part it is connected to is the bleeder valve:
http://www.van-cafe.com/home/van/page_1629_221/connectorsjunctions-plastic.html
and
these are notoriously brittle after 30 years.  I'm surprised to see the
plastic one back in stock - I had to replace mine with an aluminium one
that cost nearly $200.

So, if you do replace the hose, be careful with the plastic parts.  The
bleeder screw especially.

If this were me, I would probably leave the hose as-is. If you were going
to replace all the coolant hoses/pipes, sure, go for it, but I don't think
I would go at it unless it was causing a problem.  But Denis knows more
than me about these things - so now I'm wondering why using gas line would
be bad?

Tom

On Sun, Jan 12, 2014 at 7:13 AM, Eric Caron <ecaron1@comcast.net> wrote:

> Hi Stewart and Mike,
>
>         I think Mike is talking about the correct hose.  It is easily
> accessible once you take off the engine compartment lid.  It is right there
> coming off the metal pipe that goes left to right side to side.  It is
> about 5 inches long and connects to a plastic part that heads toward the
> front of the van.  It is held on by two small hose clamps.  the current
> hose is very firm and rigid unlike other coolant hoses.. this is why I
> think it is important to replace sooner rather then later.
>
> The small hose is the same size as the longer one that goes from the
> coolant expansion tank to the over flow tank.
> Eric Caron
> 85 GL auto
>
> On Jan 12, 2014, at 12:05 AM, Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
> wrote:
>
> > Mike, I think you are talking about the 2.1 cooling system, not the 1.9.
> >
> > Stuart
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
> Of
> > MICHAEL H
> > Sent: Saturday, January 11, 2014 6:16 PM
> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > Subject: Re: small coolant hose replacement tips needed
> >
> > Eric - if  I'm reading this correctly, you're asking about a piece of
> tubing
> > from the top coolant crossover pipe to a plastic fitting that connects
> the
> > main coolant lines  to and from the radiator at the firewall. the plastic
> > fitting includes a valve related to the distribution system. since you
> can
> > find it by feel, you can replace it by hand. I, for one would like to be
> a
> > fly on the wall of the shop when you do this in front of whomever was
> > supposed to do this proper the first time. if you practice a few times at
> > home, with visual back up ... okay, that looks mean after I've typed it
> but,
> > think of the entertainment value over the insult. it shouldn't cost too
> much
> > coolant for a quick switch out if you decide to be done with it and not
> risk
> > the relationship at the shop. hope this helps - keep us posted - take
> care,
> > be well and keep your stick on the ice.             mike
> >
> >
> > ________________________________
> > From: Eric Caron <ecaron1@COMCAST.NET>
> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > Sent: Saturday, January 11, 2014 6:38 PM
> > Subject: small coolant hose replacement tips needed
> >
> >
> > Hi listers,
> >
> >         I recently got my van back from a extended mechanical tuneup.  So
> > far I'm a bit concerned that the job may not have been done as well as I
> > hoped.  One of my  requested repairs was missed completely.
> >
> >         Denis Haynes had recommended that the small coolant hose on the
> top
> > left corner of my 1.9 engine be replaced as it was actually fuel line and
> > not coolant hose. This is about a 5 inch long small diameter hose that
> you
> > can reach easily.  Taking off the engine compartment lid it is right
> there
> > on the top at the left corner coming off a metal pipe and connected to a
> > plastic part headed toward the front of the van.  Instead of changing
> this
> > they changed the hose from the expansion tank to the over fill tank.  I
> > guess my directions were not as clear as I thought.  I didn't mind them
> > changing that hose but it would have been nice if they had placed the
> hose
> > completely on the expansion tank nipple rather then barely on. And
> > remembering  to put the hose clamp back on would have been a plus.
> >
> > My question is would it be a fairly straight forward task for  me to
> replace
> > this hose?  I still have plenty of replacement hose purchased from the
> Bus
> > Depot.  I would certainly introduce some air into the system and I have
> kno
> > idea what happens when I remove that hose!  I don't want coolant spraying
> > all over or something crazy like that.
> >
> > I was happy to leave these tasks to the mechanic but at this point I
> would
> > almost prefer to take the risk of doing it myself. That is with list
> > support!
> >
> > tips and  suggestions greatly appreciated.
> >
> > Eric Caron
> > 85 GL Auto
>