Even though it left me stranded, I still love this van!

[Yellow Rabbit]

This weekend I arranged to use my uncle's hoist so I could lift my vanagon to fix my fuel tank leak. The shop is in a small town about 75 miles away. We took off early Saturday morning with the goal of getting there with no gas in the tank. So with a 1/4 tank full and a small gas container strapped to the luggage rack we depart.

The van ran beautifully and I was grinning ear to ear. This is absolutely the most fun and versitile vehicle I've owned. As I drove into the shop, I looked in the mirror and saw steam billowing out of the left side vent behind the rear window. Oh crap! This was one of those situations where everything rolls thru your head. I had just replaced the rear heater core and drained and bled the system last week. What did I do wrong? Loose drain plug? Incorrect bleeding procedure? Bad coolant? Severly blown head gasket? It turned out to be a ruptured hose directly adjacent to a clamp. We cut the hose a bit shorter and replaced the clamp. Good to go until I can get a replacement.

It took 3-4 hours to replace every hose, clamp and fitting in the fuel system, but the peace of mind is worth it. We went for a test drive and there were no issues. I filled the gas tank and my shoes stayed dry.

I woke up the Sunday went for a little drive and there was more steam. The same hose had ruptured again. Where do you find Vanagon Hoses in the middle of nowhere on a Sunday. I hitched a ride home and left the van. I'll have to go back next weekend with a hose and a bottle of coolant. My garage feels so empty right now....I love this van.

[weinerwagen]

One thing you might try is leaving the radiator cap loose. Won't build up so much pressure so you can get your baby home....

Then deal with the whys and hows.
_________________
Retired attorney--Tort King.

[danfromsyr]

the rad cap looose will hold out the pressure, but a gravity/water level will attain in short order and you'll have a 1/2 full radiator.

to remove the pressure from the system, (allowing it to boil/steam some) without loosing the height of the system,

I'd say loosen the bleed screw in the rad. that'll vent pressure, and minimal loss of coolant. though the steam may be disconcerting. it should be alright for short distances. once had a diesel rabbit w/bad headgasket, pressurized the cooling system. left the cap off and topped off the H2o regularly.

good luck.. Dan .

[weinerwagen]

Run it home with the cap loose. Check it often. Unless you have headgasket issues you can get home without building tons of pressure to blow the hose off....

I did see a Vanagon once where the waterleak was so bad the guy had a 10 gallon water tank IV drip so he could nurse it home...

Probably that same van that was near my Westie that got crushed and sent to China for recycle.
_________________
Retired attorney--Tort King.