Mystery coolant loss

[waltraud]

83 DG, new Brickwerks early water pump and associated cooling pipes. All fitted and bled with new BW thermostat. Works well. Previously the temp needle barely ever got past one third except in hot summer temps but now it warns up much quicker and sits just to the right of the central led light and only moves a little for hills or cold days. Funny thing is that I've lost a bit if coolant from the top up reservoir regularly and now lost a bit from the orig top up tank with metal cap. NB the metal cap has a thin rubber ring /strip inserted into it presumably to seal better, not sure if this is orig ornecessary. Any way of testing sequentially as no obvious leaks of fluid if left running and I'm yet to hear the fan kick in at all. It has a two pin rad fan screw in sender on the from rhs of the rad- ill connect the wires to see if the rad fires up first! Cheers

[waltraud]

2pin rad fan switch, works when spade terminals touched together. +ve !

[lloydy]

Maybe its just the last remnants of air working its way to the tank?

[waltraud]

Yeah that's what I had thought just s bit odd that it did it out of the blue, ill give it a good run and check the rad bleed and engind bleed valve. I suspect the old reservoir may have some tiny stress fracture than if leaking will only do so under pressure, i I did think I could smell coolant a few weeks back which lok made me think possibly a fro t e d heater /rad/ underneath pipe leak somewhere? I might take it to a garage with ramps to see properly! Thanks.

[waltraud]

Does it matter which way round the wires go back on the fan sensor?

[slowcoach]

Does it matter which way round the wires go back on the fan sensor?

If you mean the low coolant sensor in the coolant tank, i don't think so.

[waltraud]

Thanks- I meant the rad fan sensor/switch half way down the rhs of the rad fan. Mine only has two wires so presumably only one speed- noisy.

[slowcoach]

Ah ok, well the rad thermo switch just bridges those terminals at the right temperature, so if your plug can fit either way, then it shouldn't matter.

You can force the fan on by bridging them in the plug yourself with a short wire if you like too

[waltraud]

Thanks- yes it does work, just not yet cut in this year, I may fit an override switch for the Pyranees!

[Ian Hulley]

I may fit an override switch for the Pyranees!

Make sure the thermo switch itself works and I would also recommend the chicken switch ... takes all the stress out of that will it/won't it moment

[waltraud]

How to test thermo switch- I've let it run / idle and not yet cut in this year. Perhaps ill load her up with holiday stuff and get a fire started under the engine to simulate Spanish weather in August.

[slowcoach]

Ha yes, but you might be fine too these vans are actually pretty good in the heat. We had a trip round Spain and Portugal two years ago, including the pyranees (loads of great wild camping!) and Seville in July was over 40 degrees! Van was fine, though with 45 degrees inside the van, tempers were not! Take a dash fan is my advice!

[Ian Hulley]

Now let's be honest here ... for £8.98 (less discount plus carriage) is it even worth the worry ? http://www.brickwerks.co.uk/index.php/t ... -95-c.html

Ian

[slowcoach]

Now let's be honest here ... for £8.98 (less discount plus carriage) is it even worth the worry ? http://www.brickwerks.co.uk/index.php/t ... -95-c.html

Ian

err, meant to say, yes fix it all before you go. Everything's a LOT harder when your'e out of your element...