It is a 1.9l, but I can do it on the bleeder assembly on the firewall.  I
thought the cap was supposed to hold at least 14 psi?  I will let you know
what I find.

Ken

On Thu, Oct 15, 2015 at 1:35 PM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
wrote:

> Disconnect the hose to the valve at the thermostat and use that hose as a
> test port. You want to see the cap open 12-16 psi and close solidly when
> the pressure drops.
>
> Dennis,
> From my phone.
> ------------------------------
> From: kenneth wilford (Van-Again) <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
> Sent: ‎10/‎15/‎2015 1:23 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Problem with customer van that is driving me crazy
>
> What kind of tester would you suggest?  I pump up the system with a hand
> pump connected to the cap nipple when I am checking for leaks (14 psi).  I
> don't have the adapter for the top of the tank.  The system is holding
> pressure, I was just saying that it doesn't seem that pressure is building
> up over miles/time.  At least so far.  I was really trying to push the van
> yesterday driving at 70-75 mph for almost 2 hours.  However it was just me
> in the van and I am here in NJ with really no mountains or hills.  The only
> variable is that she lives in PA and usually she loads down the van with
> hammocks that she sells at shows.
>
> Ken
>
> On Thu, Oct 15, 2015 at 12:20 PM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > There should be some pressure. Cracked or lose heads can be real
> > intermittent with   causing trouble. Both load and speed can have an
> > effect. Easy cruising may be ok but added load can lift those lose heads
> > and cause grief. Pressure test the system including the cap. The system
> has
> > to operate under pressure and it should hold up to 240f.
> >
> > Dennis,
> > From my phone.
> > ------------------------------
> > From: kenneth wilford (Van-Again) <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
> > Sent: ‎10/‎15/‎2015 12:04 PM
> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > Subject: Re: Problem with customer van that is driving me crazy
> >
> > Dennis, I drove it 100 miles yesterday.  There is no pressure building up
> > in the system at all.  The coolant is at the same level it was before I
> > left on my trip, the hoses aren't under any sort of pressure at all now
> > that the thing has cooled down.  Wouldn't combustion gasses build up over
> > time and balloon the hoses?
> >
> > Ken
> >
> > On Thu, Oct 15, 2015 at 11:21 AM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com
> >
> > wrote:
> >
> > > A properly working cooling system should allow for significant over
> > > temperature operation before puking coolant. The off highway puking is
> > due
> > > to combustion gasses pumping in and when the water pump slows down that
> > > inlet suction is lost and out comes the coolant .
> > >
> > > Dennis,
> > > From my phone.
> > > ------------------------------
> > > From: kenneth wilford (Van-Again) <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
> > > Sent: ‎10/‎15/‎2015 11:03 AM
> > > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > > Subject: Re: Problem with customer van that is driving me crazy
> > >
> > > At highway speeds the van is fine.  The first complaint with this
> engine
> > > was coming off of the highway and into a gas station.  Then the fan
> > didn't
> > > come on, and the overflow tank behind the license plate overflowed.
> What
> > > is why I am thinking it is related to the fan.  All of the head leaks I
> > > have dealt with have surfaced in 50 miles of driving or less and have
> > given
> > > me a positive test on my combustion gas leak tester (fluid that changes
> > > color).  This one drove 500 miles before the first problem and won't
> test
> > > positive no matter how hot the engine is (I had it up the full hot on
> the
> > > last test).
> > >
> > > Ken
> > >
> > > On Thu, Oct 15, 2015 at 9:58 AM, Dennis Haynes <
> d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
> > > wrote:
> > >
> > > > Check the head nuts for proper torque. If any are loose the studs
> > should
> > > > probably be replaced. Next suggestion is to go to the 2.1 cooling
> > system.
> > > > On the highway the radiator fan should not be needed except for AC or
> > > > extremely hot weather. Make sure the air guides are in place. If the
> > fan
> > > is
> > > > needed at highway speeds you need a radiator.
> > > >
> > > > Dennis,
> > > > From my phone.
> > > > ------------------------------
> > > > From: kenneth wilford (Van-Again) <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
> > >
> > > > Sent: ‎10/‎15/‎2015 9:43 AM
> > > > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > > > Subject: Problem with customer van that is driving me crazy
> > > >
> > > > Dear List,
> > > >
> > > > Last year I rebuilt a 2.1l engine and installed it in a customer's
> beat
> > > up
> > > > but functional 85 Westy Weekender.  The engine ran great and there
> were
> > > > really no problems until almost at the end of the 12 month warranty.
> > The
> > > > customer only had 5k miles on the engine and it started having oil
> > leaks
> > > at
> > > > the push rod tubes.  I repaired this, then it started leaking at the
> > > front
> > > > and rear main seals and the leaks seemed to get worse as she drive
> > more.
> > > >
> > > > She brought it back again and I replaced the engine with another low
> > > > mileage rebuilt engine that I had just bought from someone doing a
> > Subaru
> > > > conversion.  That engine had just driven from New Jersey to Canada
> > (Bens
> > > > Place shop) to get the conversion done with no issues.  I installed
> the
> > > 2nd
> > > > engine and everything seemed fine.  Test drove it 50 miles here
> before
> > I
> > > > would let her pick it up.  She picked it up and drove around a few
> days
> > > and
> > > > everything was fine.  Went to drive to Michigan and got about 500
> miles
> > > > away before the next incident.  She pulled off of the highway and got
> > to
> > > a
> > > > gas station when the coolant bottle in the rear released pressure and
> > > > coolant went everywhere.
> > > >
> > > > Took it to a very reputable Vanagon shop in the area and they tested
> > the
> > > > radiator fan which is what I thought caused it, and said that it was
> > > > working fine.  Did some tests to see if the head gaskets had failed
> and
> > > > none of those tests came back positive.  They had a strange
> hypothesis
> > > that
> > > > even though the tests came back negative, that when the van was
> driving
> > > > down the road, under heavy load, there would be a very small
> combustion
> > > gas
> > > > leak into the cooling system which would eventually lock up the
> system
> > > and
> > > > cause the van to overheat.  This theory was not confirmed by testing
> > > > because all of the tests for combustion gases in the cooling system
> > that
> > > > the shop did and that I have done since then (4 altogether) have all
> > come
> > > > back negative.
> > > >
> > > > I got the van back here again and the coolant tank cap had failed (it
> > was
> > > > brand new German).  I replaced that and then went to test the
> radiator
> > > fan
> > > > myself.  The fan worked at first then didn't work.  I went to check
> the
> > > > fuse and it was super old and crusty looking.  I threw it away,
> cleaned
> > > up
> > > > the contacts at the fuse panel and installed a brand new one.  Now
> the
> > > fan
> > > > was working every time.
> > > >
> > > > Jumped in the van and drove for 2 hours at 70-75 mph on the high way,
> > > > stopping a few times to use the rest room, and check to see if the
> fan
> > > was
> > > > working properly.  Everything worked perfectly.  Drove 100 miles no
> > > issues
> > > > at all, van running great.
> > > >
> > > > At this point I am thinking that the radiator fan was occasionally
> not
> > > > working.  This would allow the van to overheat randomly.  I even
> think
> > > that
> > > > my oil leaks on the first motor could have been caused by the
> > > overheating,
> > > > but I am not sure how to prove it.
> > > >
> > > > The customer has very little confidence in the van at this point.
> She
> > > > thinks it needs heads and head gaskets.  I would be glad to do that
> > work,
> > > > if I thought it was really the problem, or if there was a test I
> could
> > do
> > > > that would prove it to me.  I would hate to go to all of the extra
> work
> > > and
> > > > expense of doing the head gaskets and new heads only to have her get
> > > > another 1000 miles down the road and have the same thing happen
> again.
> > > >
> > > > Any advice or help on this would be appreciated.  I am just trying to
> > do
> > > my
> > > > best for this customer and get her a reliable van.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > --
> > > > Thanks,
> > > > Ken Wilford
> > > > John 3:16
> > > > www.vanagain.com
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > Thanks,
> > > Ken Wilford
> > > John 3:16
> > > www.vanagain.com
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Thanks,
> > Ken Wilford
> > John 3:16
> > www.vanagain.com
> >
>
>
>
> --
> Thanks,
> Ken Wilford
> John 3:16
> www.vanagain.com
>

-- 
Thanks,
Ken Wilford
John 3:16
www.vanagain.com