You Wrote:
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For quite some time now my 88 westy has been loosing coolant from the
expansion tank.  After just a few days of city driving the expansion
tank is bone dry. There does not appear to be any leaks at all. Here is
the curious thing: The temp gauge is showing normal operating temps
(just above the red LED on the gauge). The secondary expansion tank (the
one connected to the expansion tank with some kind of sending unit on
top is always filled with coolant.  I noticed that around the sending
unit there is a small amount of  coolant leak.  I removed the expansion
tank to see if it was cracked it looked to be solid.  I filled it
(removed) with water and there are no drips.  However on top of the tank
I noticed that there are three small holes on a tab that extends up from
the tank.  Should there be some kind of cover that plugs these holes?
Could the coolant be evaporating out of the tank through these holes
(due to engine heat)?  Any ideas would be appreciated.

Tim Fast
88 Westy ("The Battle Bus")
West Des Moines, IA
>

I have had a similar problem for three years.  When hot, coolant leaks from
the tank with the sensor.  Temp remains OK and no other problems
(apparently).  When I fill the overflow tank, it gets sucked dry.  Tthen
the leak stops??.  No further leakage.  I resealed the sensor, tried rtv
where it looked like the tank may leak, and bought a new cap.  I know the
sensor works so I have lived with it as one of those VW idiosyncrasies.

John Fleming
85Westy. (155K)
Vermont