You need to find the leak!  Whether it is internal or external. Usually,
internal leaks cause combustion gas to enter the cooling system which will
cause erratic operation.  You also need to check the pressure cap as a bad
cap may cause coolant to get blown out the overflow while driving, then when
all cools down, the level is low again. Any cooling system the needs regular
topping off is no good. Every time you add new water, you add new oxygen
which will cause corrosion somewhere. The antifreeze absorbs most of this
with the additives, but  the constant addition is no good.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Kevin Gilbert <KGGILBERT@AOL.COM>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Date: Wednesday, April 28, 1999 11:13 PM
Subject: Disappearing coolant

>Dear Listees,
>The coolant in the overflow tank on my '84 Westfalia/80,000 miles will
>disappear in a 75-100 mile highway trip. My exhaust appears white and
steamy.
>I'm assuming there is an internal leak (no puddles outside). My questions:
>1. Is a head gasket replacement in my future? Soon?
>2. If I do nothing but refill overflow tank, what will happen? When?
>3. Are there other reliable, low-cost fixes to the problem?
>Thanks,
>Kevin