except for the air-cooled versus the water cooled part,
otherwise...... having your wits about you, about what you are doing
really, totally applies !
On 1/19/2014 10:04 PM, JRodgers wrote:
> Michael,
>
> I'm an old pilot and aircraft mechanic. The only bloody vehicle on the
> road that approximates the things Pilots and mechanics  put up with on
> an airplane is a Vanagon!
>
> Pliot/mechanic preflight checklist - check the oil, check the tires,
> check all hatches, doors and access panels secured, Flight controls
> check, baggage secure, seat belts on, clear the area, engage starter,
> check toe brakes, release park brake blah, blah, blah!
>
> Vanagon Pre-drive Checklist - Check the tires, no obstructions
> underneath (neighbors cat, Johnnies puppy) check the coolant level,
> check the oil, Doors and hatches closed and locked, baggage secure, seat
> belts on, ignition on - check warning lights, ignition start - check
> gauges for correct start up readings, Brake pedal action check, foot on
> brake, clutch in, shift to start gear, clear the area, release park
> brake, Blah, Blah, Blah......
>
> The similarities are astonishing.
>
> John
>
> On 1/19/2014 9:28 PM, MICHAEL H wrote:
>> Alain, thanks for bringing this up. I meant to question this
>> occurrence last year. my `85 1.9 has 'the vapors' below 40F. faintly
>> grey/blue white *smoke* that dissipates quickly in the air. it only
>> last about 2-3 minutes after initial ignition and has no tell-tale,
>> indicative odor(s). 'Vanagons use coolant' without obvious leakage,
>> the overflow tank takes a month to drop about a half of an inch. I
>> suspect low volumes of steam escape via the vents on the top, back of
>> the tank. Scott belayed my fears of maladies (repeatedly, previously)
>> suggested by Dennis (see below) so, I've come to accept this as the
>> nature of the beast in winter. mine is a daily driver exxcept that I
>> don't actually have to drive every day.     mike
>>
>>
>> ________________________________
>>   From: Alain Thibault <alainthibault@TELUS.NET>
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> Sent: Sunday, January 19, 2014 8:27 PM
>> Subject: Re: White smoke when cold
>>
>>
>> Allo all
>> Thanks to all for your explanations and patience. I checked the
>> expansion tank today while the engine was running. I had opened the
>> expansion tank  prior to start the van (not the one behind the
>> licence plate) and it was full. Nothing budge before and after
>> running the van.  The only bubbling I saw was at the top hose
>> location  because when I  remove the cap, some coolant leaked as it
>> was completely full and I may have allow some air to be introduced in
>> the tank (does it make sense). Anyway, no white smoke today other
>> than the condensation (second start in 2 days...maybe that is why) .
>> The white smoke seem to be happening mostly when I start the van
>> after 5-6 days without running. Maybe I should start the van more often.
>> Voil�
>>
>> Alain
>>
>> Anyway, I'll keep my eyes open...
>>
>> The bubbling stopped within 1 minute... had  I guess but it
>> stopped.Nothing from the lower hose
>>
>>
>> Le 19 janv. 2014 � 10:54, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com> a
>> �crit :
>>
>>> I know others have already commented. Are you seeing smoke or "water
>>> vapor"?
>>> Water vapor is a normal part of the combustion process. It is more
>>> visible
>>> on a cold engine as it will condense in the exhaust and become
>>> apparent as
>>> the exhaust heats up to drive it out.  Water can actually puddle in the
>>> muffler and if hollow, the catalytic converter shell as well. When
>>> you drive
>>> it, are you driving it far enough to actually get everything warm
>>> enough to
>>> drive the moisture out? Just getting the coolant up to temp does not
>>> qualify. Are you driving it because you need to or do you think you
>>> have to?
>>> Weekly short cycles can be worse than just letting it sit. For short
>>> runs
>>> the oil will also hold some water and this will pass the rings and
>>> also add
>>> to the vapor cloud.
>>>
>>> Combustion chamber, head gaskets, and even cracked heads in the exhaust
>>> ports are all possibilities. Careful coolant monitoring and oil
>>> analysis
>>> will help determine if there is a problem or not.
>>>
>>> Dennis
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
>>> Behalf Of
>>> Alain Thibault
>>> Sent: Saturday, January 18, 2014 7:11 PM
>>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>>> Subject: White smoke when cold
>>>
>>> Allo all
>>> My van sits in the garage for most of the week and I drive it only
>>> once a
>>> week. When I start it, there is a lot of white smoke...I mean a lot of
>>> smoke. Alter 10-15 minutes, when the engine has reached normal
>>> temperature,
>>> there is no more smoke. I know that it is normal that there is smoke
>>> when
>>> the engine is cold but that much, I have rarely seen it. Being
>>> fairly new to
>>> the Vanagon world, I wonder it this is normal? I would appreciate
>>> any of
>>> your thoughts on the subject. I don't know if it is related to that,
>>> but
>>> when the engine has reached normal temperature, it will need 2-3 cranks
>>> before the engine starts again...
>>> Thanks
>>> Alain
>>> 1986 Westfalia
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPad 2
>>>
>>
>