good to know.  Thanks.

On 10/14/2015 11:34 AM, Pat Spragge/RFAN wrote:
> Still have the aluminum ones ( as well as the other plastic reservoirs)
> $245
>
> Pat
>
>
>
> From:   "SDF ( aka ;jim lahey' - Scott )" <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
> To:     vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Date:   10/14/2015 02:27 PM
> Subject:        Re: Missing coolant
> Sent by:        Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
>
>
>
> any cap or valve system has to do 2 1/2 things..
>
> first....maintain pressure on the coolant, and release pressure if it
> gets too high.
>
> then,
> Have a 'suck-back' feature from the license plate / overflow bottle.
>
> just a one way valve won't do all that.
>
> I installed a Van Cafe-  supplied all aluminum pressure tank with
> conventional 'american style' pressure cap.
> it was almost 100 % perfect in design and execution.
> Don't know if they still sell them, that was a few years ago.
>
> On 10/14/2015 7:25 AM, Eric Wunrow wrote:
>>> Yes, mine are from Meyle.
>>>
>>> Jim, your inline valve idea is great!
>>>
>>>    Eric
>>>    Eric Wunrow Pictures
>>>
>>>    303. 988. 8717
>>>    VW@EricWunrow.com
>>>
>>>
>>> <EW Email Sig.gif>
>>>
>>> On Oct 14, 2015, at 8:08 AM, Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
>>>
>>>> You are exactly right, the one-way feature on the valve is something I
> have
>>>> know VW shops to argue about. When I had a 2.1, I would test them
> before
>>>> leaving the parts place because so many of them didn't work out of the
> box.
>>>> The "good" ones didn't last long, either. I suspect you might be
> buying a
>>>> brand called "Meyle Germany" but that is just the brand name some
> company
>>>> bought, and they could be made absolutely anywhere. You might try the
>>>> dealers but good luck with that.
>>>>
>>>> One of these days, all vanagon drivers are going to be using that cap
>>>> simply as a connection to a one-way valve from a third party, inline
>>>> between the reservoir tank and the overflow tank.
>>>>
>>>> Jim
>>>>
>>>> On Wed, Oct 14, 2015 at 2:41 AM Eric Wunrow <VW@ericwunrow.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> I'm a total rookie compared to you guys, but wanted to note I've had
> at
>>>>> least three expansion tank (blue) cap failures in 23,000, full-time
> miles
>>>>> over 26 months on the road. I believe the failures are somewhat
> related to
>>>>> how many heating/cooling cycles they're asked to do.
>>>>>
>>>>> I only buy the German ones, and my test is if you can both suck and
> blow
>>>>> on the cap, it's toast (please keep the jokes to yourself).
>>>>>
>>>>> My understanding is the cap should only release pressure one
> direction —
>>>>> not two.
>>>>>
>>>>> Eric
>>>>> Eric Wunrow Pictures
>>>>>
>>>>> 303. 988. 8717
>>>>> VW@EricWunrow.com
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On Sep 28, 2015, at 3:27 PM, Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Thanks Jim, the cap was replaced with an OEM cap when the water pump
> was
>>>>> done 13,000 miles ago, and the overflow tank doesn’t show any
> evidence of
>>>>> any spillage on or under it.  I’m thinking small leaks too, but I’d
> like to
>>>>> narrow it down.  The 2.1 has a lot more hoses than my 1.9!
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Stuart
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> From: Jim Felder [mailto:jim.felder@gmail.com]
>>>>>> Sent: Monday, September 28, 2015 2:21 PM
>>>>>> To: Stuart MacMillan; vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com
>>>>>> Subject: Re: Missing coolant
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Old hoses leak microscopic amounts of coolant. Ive had it spray onto
> the
>>>>> engine in such small quantities that it would evaporate before you
> could
>>>>> see it. Tighten hoses, replace hoses is about all you can do. But you
>>>>> didn't mention testing the pressure cap. That can send a good deal of
>>>>> coolant into the expansion tank, which can drip on the road through
> the
>>>>> overflow and you won't know it.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Jim
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Mon, Sep 28, 2015 at 4:11 PM Stuart MacMillan
> <stuartmacm@gmail.com>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>> Just when everything seems to be sorted out, it isn't.  Son's '87 is
>>>>> losing
>>>>>> over a quart of coolant every 400 miles, and I can't find any leaks.
>>>>> Rear
>>>>>> heater has been removed, and there is no odor from the front heater.
>   No
>>>>>> drips anywhere-engine plumbing, heads, transmission cooler,
> radiator, or
>>>>>> front heater valve.  No evidence of coolant mixing with either the
>>>>>> transmission fluid or engine oil, and that much coolant would
> certainly
>>>>> foam
>>>>>> oil.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I'm wondering if it's burning coolant, but in my experience failed
>>>>> sealing
>>>>>> rings in Vanagons lead to over pressurization of the system, and
> that's
>>>>> not
>>>>>> happening. It also runs great. I sometimes notice a faint smell of
>>>>> burning
>>>>>> coolant at the engine compartment vents, but I can't find anything
>>>>> dripping
>>>>>> on the exhaust when the system is pressurized.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Would investing in a UV leak detection kit tell me anything?  It
> would
>>>>> seem
>>>>>> losing this much coolant would show up somewhere.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Any ideas?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Stuart
>>>>>>
>