I'm always amazed how , evidently, some people seem to resist getting
Hands On , on the thing..
and find out what is going on FIRST ..
before ordering or getting parts.

that's what I suggest..take the dang thing about and see what is going
on there.
Could just be a matter of clean up and put back together carefully.

( sometimes I get the hose further down over the plastic pipe and use
two hose clamps there. )

one ofmy  sayings ..there's no substitute for actually taking apart,
looking, working on it etc.
NOTHING will change the situation until that is done first.

in a rare case, yes, you have a working vehicle and you just touch
something ..
and totally push things over the edge, and then you don't have a working
vehicle.
To be avoided for sure ..
but really ...get down and dirty !  lol.

Perhaps not many people fix things on a regular basis anymore.
That's almost 'all I do' .........like 50 times a week or more.  Just
fix and repair and restore stuff.
it's fun and rewarding, and not expensive to do at all. I encourage it.
I think there is a terrible lack of 'physicality' in modern life.
Like splitting firewood, lifting and hauling stuff ...using hands, brain
and body regularly.

I modified my tricycle before I even went to kindergarten.  No one
taught me how either. Been doing it ever since.

a gallon of coolant is a LOT ....
long term, if you find a donor Vanagon ..the 2.1 cooling system is
better for sure, than the 1.9 version.
btw..ALL parts and systems are interchangeble between 1.9 and 2.1 engines.
I often run 1.9's on 2.1 Digifant fuel injection,  upgrade 1.9's to 2.1
cooling system, etc.
I always run the vastly improved 2.1 exhaust system on 1.9 engines.
And then you can use the 2.1 oil cooler/heat exchanger on your 1.9 .
Works great.

if you like doing that sort of thing that is.

VROOOM !
Scott

On 3/31/2016 11:25 AM, David wrote:
> Narrowing down- that's my next inspection point- I'll be pressure
> testing as well and will post results...I'm assuming that rust color
> is from the internal piece breaking down...I'm wondering if I should
> just purchase the Go Westy kit as an ounce of prevention :-/
>
> Dave
>
> On Thu, Mar 31, 2016 at 4:39 PM, SDF ( aka ;jim lahey' - Scott )
> <scottdaniel@turbovans.com <mailto:scottdaniel@turbovans.com>> wrote:
>
>     the plastic pipes..
>     particularily at the front ends of them, near the radiator, are
>     notorious for having the a metal insert slip out of place, out of
>     the end of the plastic pipe....causing a leak ..
>
>     and sometimes, a sudden large leak.
>     I've had it happen out on the road in a seemed-just-fine personal
>     Vanagon, and I've seen a wonderful Vanagon in a junkyard with
>     fried engine for  this Exact cause.
>
>     you might keep an eye on this spot, you might pull the hose off
>     and 're-do' in there, etc.
>     GW sells a kit I gather, as well.
>
>     fwiw, if I was going to attempt to re-glue the metal insert back
>     into the plastic pipe, I'd use Marine Tex ...one of the best
>     two-part epoxies you'll ever find.
>
>     in any case..investigate that spot further I suggest !
>
>     Scott
>
>     On 3/31/2016 4:26 AM, David wrote:
>>     Ok, the hunt is on...completely topped up system... Visual inspection
>>     reveals externally, at the worst a rusty spot on one of the forward coolant
>>     plastic hoses... really? with it idling in the drive, with me revving it,
>>     it's still bone dry on the outside :-/
>>
>>     I guess more time needs to pass and need to see more coolant losss...
>>
>>     Probably time to replace plugs so I'll endeavor into that and maybe that
>>     will tell me something...Still have to get a pressure gauge on it and see
>>     what that reveals...if anything from the outside...
>>
>>     Oh yeah, and initial test with running the van cold fo 30 secs to see if
>>     any burps come out from combustion getting into coolant turned out
>>     negative....no bubble, nada, nuthin...
>>
>>     Will post more as I go through this...
>>
>>     Dave
>>
>>     On Wed, Mar 30, 2016 at 10:59 PM, Phil Zimmerman<philzimm1@shaw.ca> <mailto:philzimm1@shaw.ca>  wrote:
>>
>>>>     From: David [mailto:fjazzbass@gmail.com]
>>>>     Any advice is welcome... do we have to check for exhaust in the coolant?
>>>>     Dave
>>>>     85 1.9 GL MT
>>>     Dave,
>>>
>>>     Another internal leak symptom the check if you have not located the source:
>>>     Pull all four spark plugs, in order and compare their electrodes.
>>>     A clean electrode, if present, will show itself compared to the normal grey
>>>     to black oil/carbon of combustion. A clean spark-plug electrode is a sign
>>>     of
>>>     coolant getting into the combustion chamber.
>>>
>>>     Subaru coolant conditioner has worked wonders for a number of folk on this
>>>     list.
>>>
>>>     Good hunting Dave.
>>>
>>>     Phil z.
>>>     On his rock off the west coast
>>>
>
>