Vanagon overheating at idle.

[pburkeame]

My Vanagon overheats and boils over if it sits idling for a while. I’ve deduced that it does this because the pump can’t circulate the coolant spinning at idle as opposed to at 3000 RPM. Am I out to lunch? Thanks.
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1987 Vanagon Syncro, Manual
1987 Vanagon 2WD, Automatic
1986 DOKA Syncro, Manual

[crazyvwvanman]

My 87 wbx vans will idle for hours without running very hot.
The radiator fans may run a lot, depending on wind conditions.

Mark

[0to60in6min]

How old is your thermostat? It could be slows to open. You may need a new one.

[oceanair]

Do you hear the fan cycling on and off -- almost certainly your problem if the cooling system is full of coolant with no air.
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84 Vanagon Pop Top Conversion from Tin Top, 1970 Ghia - all sweet rides! Love em!
Previous: Green 72 Tin Top, White 72 Westy, Blue 64 Beetle, Yellow 71 Squareback, 2014 Jetta TDI Wagon - wish I could have them all back!

[zerotofifty]

Check the pump drive belt for correct tension and assure it is not slipping do to age or oil on it.
Assure the radiator fan is turning on and at full power when things are hot.

Check for pinched cooling hose, an easy inspection.
make sure radiator is indeed getting hot, touch it or use a thermometer, IR "gun" or such

Easy first steps.

If that above is all good, then check other things, as mentioned like thermostat for for full opening at rated temperature, a pot of water, thermometer and stove are needed for that

If all that fails consider cooling system flush, if the coolant has not been properly serviced in the past.
and of course the water pump may be removed for inspection of the impeller, the blades can be eroded away.


that picked my brain clean as road kill by a vulture.

[pburkeame]

Ok, thanks for the info.

In my case, the radiator does feel cool and I have tested and replaced the thermostat. To tell you the truth, I’m never absolutely certain if I have the coolant bled properly. I’ll give that a shot again.
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1987 Vanagon Syncro, Manual
1987 Vanagon 2WD, Automatic
1986 DOKA Syncro, Manual

[bobhill8]

As mentioned above, a simple IR gun can be really helpful for checking different areas for changes in temp. Sounds likely that there is air in the system. I also love the GoWesty pressure pump that attaches onto the blue cap. There are many ways to remove air, but that one has been reliable and convenient for me.
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1986 Westy
1971 Squareback

[Sodo]

Try parking with the rear tires half-a-wheel higher than the front.
The reservoir will be 10 inches higher than the radiator bleed screw, and will push trapped air out.

I've had good luck bleeding like this, all on one quick operation.
Because this is available in my driveway.

If you are in Kansas where it's flat.... you can do it "on the level" with the libby bong (standpipe) method.
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'90 Westy EJ25, NEW oil rings (!) 2Peloquins, 3knobs, SyncroShop pressure-oiled pinion-bearing & GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox.
'87 Tintop, EJ25, cooled filtered (original) gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb

All Vanagons should do this:
Add direct starter-to-chassis cable THEN delete ground strap at front transaxle mount.
The best time to do this mod was in 2010. The second best time is TODAY.
If your starter is slow, this is MORE important.

[pease503]

Also your cooling system need to hold pressure but it sound more like an air in radiator.