Ty holding that tube is a bad idea. Most Ty  Wraps

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> On May 17, 2017, at 2:47 PM, Steven Johnson <sjohnso2000@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> 
> Hi Dennis,
> 
> Points taken.  I told him about the coolant loss.  He certainly added
> coolant as there was much more in there than when I took it in.
> Whether or not it was properly bled is a good question.  And I'll make sure
> it is done correctly.   I have a perfectly slanted driveway
> just for this purpose..     ;)      Thanks again for your superb wisdom.
> 
> Steven
> 
> On Wed, May 17, 2017 at 5:36 PM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
> wrote:
> 
>> Some thoughts:
>> Did you instruct the shop to "only replace the belts"?
>> When a vehicle is brought to me after an overheat, especially a boil over
>> a more detailed approach is needed before releasing back into service.
>> Of the two tanks there is the pressure or expansion tank, and the overflow
>> or really the recovery tank. Make up coolant from the recovery tank back to
>> the pressure tank or main system only occurs during cool down cycles. It
>> does not occur during normal driving except maybe after the radiator fan
>> cycles. But that is minimal. Whenever there is a significant loss the
>> system has to be topped off by removing the pressure cap and topping off
>> that tank. Ideally cold engine, just start it, and fill tank to top. After
>> a massive loss the system should also be bled.
>> A partially charged system may work for some time on the 2.1. Hopefully
>> the system will fill from the recovery tank after a few cycles. If the
>> engine is completely filled with coolant the system will not build pressure
>> and micro boiling and vaporizing will do damage to the cylinder walls and
>> head studs. Google cylinder cavitation erosion especially ford Diesels.
>> The WaterBoxer equivalent is busted studs.
>> Also, after the event the system and particularly the cap should be tested
>> for proper operation. The cap does not like steam. When the cap fails it
>> usually will fail to hold pressure and in addition to the vapor problem
>> noted above you can have an unexpected surprise coolant burp out at the
>> worst possible time. Usually during or just after an extended highway run.
>> Think of a pot on a stove. The coolant temp may be under control (bulk) but
>> many parts are a lot hotter than the coolant. Lose pressure to contain the
>> vapors or when flow changes due to say slowing down and all that heats gets
>> to the coolant boiling off we go! Let that pot go dry and burn the bottom.
>> Let the engine go dry and you burn the insides.
>> 
>> It is possible that you avoided damage but you really need to investigate
>> everything to avoid future surprises. Many parts in these vans are old and
>> not tolerant of abuse. It's never fun to wait for a tow truck especially
>> when far from home.
>> 
>> Dennis
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
>> Of Steven Johnson
>> Sent: Wednesday, May 17, 2017 4:17 PM
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> Subject: Re: What can go wrong.....
>> 
>> Here's an update.   Last night I worked on the van.  Removing the AC belt
>> was a problem
>> as I could not get it off of the main engine pulley.  Turns out there was
>> an obstruction that
>> I could not remove to save my life.   I cut the AC belt and tried all kinds
>> of ways to push this
>> obstruction out but no-go.   I finally threw in the towel and gave up.   I
>> had the camper towed
>> to Lonnie's University VW in Durham.   He ordered all three belts and had
>> them installed and
>> the van ready to go at about 1:30PM.   When I got there I paid the bill and
>> checked the engine
>> compartment.  The belts looked good and the oil dipstick tube was secured
>> with..... tie wraps.
>> I will have to keep an eye on those.   There was no coolant in the overflow
>> and the evaporation
>> tank was down about 1.5 inches.   I added coolant up to the max line on the
>> overflow.  And drove
>> it about 8 - 10 miles to my work.  No undue temperature indications from
>> the temp gauge.  No drama
>> lights.   Everything seemed normal.   When I got to my work  I peaked
>> through the license plate
>> access and saw that the coolant was down only a little in the overflow.
>> I'll check it again before
>> I drive home.
>> 
>> It seems to run okay and I didn't see any drips.   Definitely keeping an
>> eye on it for a while
>> and find a better solution for the dip stick holder.
>> 
>> Thanks all for your extremely valuable input.
>> 
>> 
>> BTW.... the obstruction was a strange small piece of pressed wood
>> fragment.   I have no idea how
>> it got in there.....
>> 
>> Steven
>> 91 Westy
>> 
>> On Mon, May 15, 2017 at 10:13 AM, Steven Johnson <sjohnso2000@gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>> 
>>> Well, it happened, the patient is a 91 Westfalia.  I had left a rag in
>>> the engine compartment after topping of the power steering reservoir
>>> with the Castrol Dextron ATF. So, in the short term, it knocked out
>>> the bracket holding the dipstick.  At the time that was the only
>>> damage
>>> done.   So I fixed this by tie-wrapping the bracket out of the way of the
>>> moving belts.
>>> 
>>> Fast-forward to yesterday, I took a road trip from Durham, NC up to
>>> Laurel, MD without issue.
>>> But on the way back my battery/alt. light came on steady and shortly
>>> after the coolant light began to blink and the gauge went up toward
>>> critical red.  I took my foot off the accelerator and was able to
>>> coast off on a exit and right into a gas station.  By the time I got
>>> out and took a look behind I could see coolant spurting out.  Looks
>>> like I lost maybe a quart
>>> or so.   I could not tell where it had sprayed from at all.   The
>>> alternator/waterpump belt
>>> was completely shredded and the power steering pump belt was off but
>>> looks okay as is the AC belt.
>>> 
>>> I thought about getting the spare belts out but I had a long way to go
>>> and by the time I got it
>>> done I don't think I could have driven back without some sleep time.
>> So,
>>> I opted for
>>> a AAA flatbed home. (Especially since I had to go to work Monday.   I was
>>> covered for the
>>> first 100 miles but the second I had to fork out $4.00 per mile.   I ate
>>> the deal and was dropped
>>> off at 1:00AM this morning.   All because I left a rag in my engine
>>> compartment and neglected
>>> to fix the bracket like I should have.
>>> 
>>> Any suggestions on how to better secure the bracket?
>>> 
>>> Thanks,
>>> 
>>> Steven
>>> 91 Westy
>>> 
>>