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Sun May 29, 2005 7:42 pm

I have an 87 westy and have filled the overflow tank about 3 times since January. Is this normal?

Sun May 29, 2005 7:48 pm

Depends....
is it leaking from one of the tanks? Do you have a heater core or valve leaking or seeping?

Bet if you get to looking you might find its a rear heater or you have a cap tht may be letting fluid leak out

common but frustrating

Sun May 29, 2005 7:50 pm

I am in the same boat.

I don't know where the fluid is going. I have no external leaks, all my heater cores are solid, and don't have any signs of a head leak.

I just check it every couple weeks and don't worry about it.

Sun May 29, 2005 7:59 pm

The stuff does seem to find those tiny little leaks....I have a Carat Jetta circa 92, loaded to the gills with all the options, could not figure out why it also ate anti freeze off and on over a period of time...quart ever week or so, the red light would start flashing on the temp guage to let me know it needed a drink.

Then one day was standing near the front of the radiator and caught a whiff of anti freeze and a slight smoke signal.....(No----big chief was not trying to send a message I have Verizon) Radiator was ever so slightly leaking at a seam.

I find the trouble spots are the tanks in the rear, and heater core valves...
my 2.1 insists on seaping at the thermostat covering, its plastic and I'm too lazy to change it....and so a head leaks slightly, big freaking deal, I leak once in a while when I get too much coffee or Ice Tea in me....

Sometimes a tube running up thru the floor will have a tiny pin hole leak, enough to seap out a bit but closes when it warms up...sometimes a hose clamp has taken a hit which allows a drip to form. There are hoses all over the place, up front near the heaters in the rear, lord knows enough to make the Space Shuttle jealous
.
Until its dumping a gallon a day on the ground I would just consider it
a slight issue...kind of like gray hair,,,,

happens to the best of us....as long as it stays in I dont care what colour it turns,,,,, :wink:

Mon May 30, 2005 4:41 pm

Hear hear, I agree 100%. Same leaks on my 87'. Its best to keep an eye on it, but with any vehcile from 87' that should be a habit.

Tue May 31, 2005 5:06 am

me too, little hard to find bleeders :evil:

Tue May 31, 2005 5:31 am

Has anyone used the radiator bleeder valve that Kenneedy Engineering supply with the Subaru conv. kit? It replaces the bolt on top of the radiator with a banjo fitting, a copper tube with valve and more tubing. The interesting thing is, you can run the end into a soda bottle of coolant and reduce the chance of sucking air in at the radiator.

Tue May 31, 2005 6:07 am

I dropped a bleeder once down somewhere in the bowels of the front radiator, looked for hours before I drove to Pick a Part, paid 2 bucks entry fee and went over to a Vanagon and swipped a bleeder.

Moved the van back after burping out the air pockets there lay the original bleeder.

Oh well...