Vincent, I'm glad you are having a great trip.

Yes, Montana is awesome, and the Beartooth is the "most awsomeest of all."
Nothing I've seen anywhere beats the Beartooth for sheer beauty, and a
feeling of being way above and away from civilization.

Regarding those clamps:  I believe you'll find a consensus of the pros and
other experts on here (I am neither) that the spring clamps are much, much
better than screw clamps.  Screw clamps tend to cut the hose, and they
loosen over time as the hose responds to temperature changes.  The spring
clamps have smooth edges and do not cut, and they maintain tension.  And
though I am not expert, I have had experience with the screw clamps causing
a problem.

I'd think something else, not the spring clamps, was responsible for your
leak.

mcneely

On Tue, Jul 5, 2016 at 2:05 PM, Vincent Dow <ianvincentdow@gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi everybody,
> Been thinking about the vanagon family. We're on our way back east, and the
> van is doing great.
>
> L.A. to Reno
> Reno to Nephi UT
> Nephi to
>
> The only thing was a pool of coolant on the passenger-side floormat this
> morning. I had actually used the heater yesterday - it gets cold on
> Beartooth Pass in Montana - really cold.
> Anyway, my heater hoses are attached with those cheesy spring-type hose
> clamps. I was able to slide it back, and put a regular screw type hose
> clamp on. I did that in a restaurant parking lot at 10,000' above sea
> level.
>
> Montana is amazing. I've never seen country like this, and I grew up in
> Tahoe.
>
> I get a check-engine light when I'm downhilling in gear. I know this is
> somehow related to the speed sensor and my 1994 subaru 2.2. And then
> sometimes I get a random CEL, just when I pull off a highway and drive in
> slow traffic. The CEL is accompanied by a change in idle, choppy sounding
> like a 2 cylinder engine. Then it gores away.
>
> It's great to be in a vanagon! These are the best camping trips and miles
> of road I've ever done.
> Stay safe, and have fun everyone. See ya on the highway!
> vinnie
>