Club 80-90 Forums

Dear Forum,
I would really value your advice. I have a 1986 Caravelle T25, 1.9 litre water cooled engine. In the summer 2016, on at least two occasions, I found the overflow water tank full to bursting whilst cold. This was after a journey the day before, and it sitting over night. Over the winter it gets very little use. Summer 2017, I MOT it in the hope of using it over the summer, but same thing happens, I find the over flow tank full to bursting whilst following a short run and it sitting cold for a few days. I take it to a garage and they spot the pink antifreeze around the seals, something I'd not seen until then. On the advice of a VW specialist over the phone, as he was too busy to look at it himself, I'm told that the seals have cracked on the gasket, and that the only solution is a new reconditioned engine. The garage suggests that I flush it out and put new coolant in with a mix of Steel Seal as a much cheaper, if not short term solution. This I do, with 50/50 G13 coolant and deionised water (8 years too late perhaps) and away I go, except I don't really as I'm too afraid to use it. I've driven it on occasions just on a fifteen mile round trip. This is because I can see a very slow drip of pink anti freeze underneath the engine. It's so slow that it's probably lost half inch of coolant since last summer, but I rarely run it.
I've just had another garage look at it, they ran it, thought the thermostat might be blocked, but in the end they have diagnosed a terminal gasket and recommended I fit a new re-conditioned engine. This garage is not a specialist with these vans, they've worked on a few over the years, but they work on all sorts of classic vehicles. Last summer, my neighbour spoke too a few specialist garages and they all suggested a new engine. Except Campershack, who are experienced at fixing this type of problem. Whilst I would love them to see my van and solve it one way or another, after a helpful conversation, they've said they are too busy to commit to anything.

What should I do? My current re-conditioned Vega engine has done approx. 32,000 miles, it was fitted 8/9 years ago. It was fitted by an excellent mechanic, but not a specialist, and the anti freeze he used was not the recommended G12. This may be the start of it's problems. I used it as my main vehicle up until 4 winters ago, following a house move to a really narrow road, with no parking and small turning bay. It became my summer time vehicle and sat most of the winter.

Fixing it means getting a loan to do so. Money is very tight as I am training to be a teacher. I love my van, can't part with it, it's my only means of taking my son on holiday. Do you know of a garage other than Campershack, experienced at fixing the gasket? Do I take the loan out and put another engine in? Do I just keep running it and stop being afraid to drive it anywhere past 15 miles? Please, please help...I so need your advice.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my post. Please ask questions. Next week when I get my van back, I can take pictures to share if requested. I live in Worcestershire.

Thank you, RosieLee

Have you tested your dalek cap?

Dalek cap? Is that the cap on the main reservoir water container? I've replaced that with a new one.

https://www.justkampers.com/media/catal ... 99-0_6.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

If your struggling then could try here
http://www.cevl.co.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Based near Shrewsbury.

RosieLee wrote:Dalek cap? Is that the cap on the main reservoir water container? I've replaced that with a new one.

https://www.justkampers.com/media/catal ... 99-0_6.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

mmmm Just Kampers you say, there are loads of duff cheap and nasty caps out there.

take it off and blow down the pipe it should quack if it does not its useless.
buy here next time

https://www.brickwerks.co.uk/t3-parts/e ... 3-oem.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I should add the rubber seals are not the problem, they can weep and the engine still run, the problem is if the compression seals have failed and you can't see those they are deep inside.

The only sure test is a snif test to see if compression gasses are getting into the cooling system.

First check the cap or just buy a new one from Brickwerks who can be trusted to sell only good stuff.

Thank you so much for your suggestions.

I will try the cap test you suggest.

I had a block test last summer, there was no sign of the gasses leaking in the water.

Is this something that should be done again?

Thanks again.

Start with testing the cap and replacing it if you are unsure with the Brickwerks one.

The thermostat (I'm reliably told) fails open and not closed so it would not be that.

The only other thing that can push coolant out in to the top up tank (other than a faulty cap) is air in the system which allows the water to boil turn to steam and over pressurise the system.

So how does air get in?

Either it was never bled properly or it's getting in past the compression seals.

So another sniff test for combustion gasses would be advisable after renewing the cap and bleeding the system properly.

http://www.brick-yard.co.uk/forum/bleed ... 29710.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

PS Top up tank can't burst because it has 3 vent holes in the top.

Thank you so much for your help.
I'm going to replace the cap as suggested. I think the garage my van is at has flushed out the water system to check the thermostat. I'll know for sure when I collect the van. if they have done this then I can just get a block test do you think?
If the coolant is leaking, albeit very slowly, will this affect air getting in the system?
Thanks

yes air would get in with leaky seals but they would need to be pretty bad to get enough air in for it to boil over unless you are not checking the expansion tank regularly

The expansion tank in the engine bay should always be brim full, with leaky seals it may not pull in coolant from the top up tank to replace what is lost so you need to manually top up (when cold)

Where abouts are you ? Fill in your profile and someone round the corner may be able to help you for a cup of tea and a biscuit.

This could be as simple as needing bleeding properly ... the Dalek cap is an easy first step as Paul (itchyfeet) says ... JK,GSF and Ebay ones are often faulty, buy the premium one from Brickwerks ... it's the original part as fitted by Uncle Volkswagen.

Ian