Reply
Sat 5 Apr, 2008 04:24 pm
just bought a 86 vanagon temporarily disabled. owner said was running great before (he's relatively believable), needed fuel pump replacement and he didn't have time. i replaced the fuel pump and the van started right up and sounds great. but there's coolant issues. after about fifteen minutes of running the engine (moving or not), the coolant starts overheating, boiling in the reservoir, and slightly spilling out. there was a leak on the small hose at the top of the reservoir, so i cut the leak off the hose and put it back on with no leak there... i worry there might be leaks elsewhere. or air in the line. i haven't gotten a chance to check the thermostat, and it sounds like the radiator fan is not blowing.
my real question is:"should i be worried about the bank-breaking heads/gaskets problem most often associated with vanagons"
there is no evidence of a coolant leak around the heads or any smoke at all when the engine is running (even at peak overheating)
thanks in advance, experts!
Always to be concerned about waterboxers popping heads.
Why is it overheating?
No one has ever owned one of these long and drove it much without praying to the VW gods and offering cash...
RH
always wary... would like to be calmed, though
i'm taking it to a vw service station monday (i live in tucson, van is in phoenix and i don't have space to do much where it is now).
they're going to give it a diagnostic inspection to tell me what's up...
though, if there is no smoke, how worried should i be.
if 1 is "always concerned" like you say, and 5 is "holy crap the heads need work"?
4
If they don't now, they will.
Money pit, unless you have feelings for it...
RH
are you saying that about all 86 vanagons??
How many miles?
I'm playing the averages, and I buy 'em cheap when they pop.
Last one was $250... (they become pieces)
RH
odometer stopped working in 02 at 63k. engine sounds great and everything is tight. previous owner has replaced ac compressor and alternator and kept it very clean. i love it and am ready to spend some money getting the cooling system to work. i just don't know at which point to call it quits
Keep your eyes open, and watch the heads...
Any coolant leaks can be deadly.
A good aftermarket heat gauge in the head is a good idea.
i knew about the wasserboxer head issue, so i gave it a pretty good inspection for signs of leaks, and, like i said, even when running at a high temp there is no smoke or leak... would i be remotely correct to assume it is simply a thermostat/radiator fan/air bubble issue???
(and thanks, btw... you're very helpful)
There are a few reasons for coolant overheating some of which are
1) Clogged coolant passages and/or radiator
2) Exhaust gasses leaching into coolant
3) Complex coolant leak such as from cracked block
4) Simple Coolant leak such as from a hose
5) Water pump failure
6) Fan clutch not engaging
7) Stuck closed thermostat
Hope for 4) 5) 6) 7)
Pray it's not 1) 2) 3)
Pray no damage has occurred
Whatever you do change the oil right now to full synthetic as it has higher heat resistance to breakdown, and the old oil will likely be toast for the same reasons.
