Also, in the same pice of plastic are two sensors. Their seals can leak, their fasteners can break or corrode. You have never seen an engine lose coolant so fast. 

Jim

> On Mar 21, 2014, at 1:24 PM, "SDF ( Scott Daniel Foss )" <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM> wrote:
> 
> if you have the original 'coolant distribution tower' ..
> 
> cleverly hidden by VW behind the firewall where you'd never see it ..
> If original, yours  was due to be replaced, from a
> time-age-deterioration viewpoint
> about 4 yrs. ago.
> 
> if it is that part..they just crumble and break..
> the best thing is to get the part # off the old one..
> and order a new one from Van Cafe ...or what I recommend anyway.
> 
> an engineer once famously said 'it is the nature of fluids to leak.'
> 
> 'fluids' include gases too btw.
> 
> 
> 
> 
>> On 3/21/2014 11:03 AM, JRodgers wrote:
>> Took Ol' Red out for another run this morning. So I tooling down I-65
>> about 10 miles out of town when the low level warning light comes on. O
>> kept speed to maneuver through traffic to the side of the road and while
>> I'm maneuvering temp gauge needle rises so the bottom of the needle just
>> barely touches the top of the little flashing red light. Then I'm off
>> the road, engine off, and coasting to a stop. Stopped - I can hear water
>> gurgling/boiling but no steam. Then I look under the van and coolant is
>> pouring front the front of the driver-side rear tire to the rear of the
>> driver-side front tire.
>> 
>> Clearly - I have a cooling system issue.
>> 
>> God Bless AAA! They came to my rescue and Ol' Red is home. Now for
>> another round of Vanagon Ownership Fun and Games!!!
>> 
>> John
>>