New Vanagon

[yondermtn]

I'm always browsing craigslist for basically anything and everything, but especially VW stuff. My wife has never been able to get the manual transmission and general finesse of driving our bay window down, so when I saw a local ad for a newer Vanagon with auto trans I had to take look. Long story short, we now own a 1990 Vanagon Multivan.
We bought from the original owner who kept very detailed records including every gas fill-up and maintenance record from day one. There are a couple of leaks that I hope to take care of, but otherwise it drives like a dream.

[luftvagon]

sooo purrty... top of the line.

[sped372]

Sure looks nice! We'll be wanting a full review and comparison vs. the bay!

[luftvagon]

Sure looks nice! We'll be wanting a full review and comparison vs. the bay!

There is no comparison here...
We know who wins :)

[yondermtn]

I certainly don't want to open that can of worms, but I can say that I am very impressed with the way the Vanagon drives and handles. The seating position is much better for us taller folks.

My to-do list as of now:

1. Familiarize myself with the cooling system.
2. Replace rear heater valve
3. Locate and repair at least one more coolant leak(I think it's a hose from the t-stat to another distribution pipe)
4. Repair power steering leak at reservoir.
5. Clean up grounds at headlight switch.

That's the short list as of now. If anyone has any advice, lay it on me.

[Amskeptic]

Sure looks nice! We'll be wanting a full review and comparison vs. the bay!

There is no comparison here...
We know who wins :)

Yes, there is no comparison here . . .
a baywindow will leave a Vanagon stranded off-road,
a Vanagon will leave a baywindow in the weeds on a twisty road.

NOW THEN, I see one of each at that house, which makes yondermtn the winner here.
Colin

[Amskeptic]

Iwe now own a 1990 Vanagon Multivan.

I am officially overcome with the bitterest of jealousy . . .

Shampoo those carpets for that homey feeling, homey.
Colin

(p.s. we do Vanagons . . . )

[yondermtn]

(p.s. we do Vanagons . . . )

Good news
I'm sure your services will be welcome in 2014.

I'll be moving the 1977 to cozy heated underground storage tonight and the Vanagon will get the dry, not as cozy, but closer to me spot in the garage next to the boring Honda Odyssey.

[yondermtn]

I posted this thread over at that other place, but maybe somebody here has some advice too.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=578558

[Amskeptic]

I posted this thread over at that other place, but maybe somebody here has some advice too.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=578558

Oh, we're supposed to go OVER THERE to read of your issues, then come back here to answer?


Anyways, as ever, may I invite you to participate in your own discoveries by doing the obvious:

Clean the areas in question very very well. Dry nicely.
Run the engine briefly and check for new evidence.
Run it a bit longer if nothing shows up.
Coolant leaks sometimes can evaporate quicker than you can spot them if the engine gets too warm.

I have no doubt that you can inflame idle speculators with big juicy questions like "what is it" based on a photograph, but only you can find the true sources of your specific leaks here.
"It's probably your head gaskets" is going to get you nowhere.

Lanval and I are field experts at Vanagon water-cooled inspection and repair, be sure to ask him how he tracked down and rehabilitated his cooling system to be reliable .
Colin

[yondermtn]

Thanks Colin!

I've been doing a bunch of reading on the cooling system. A lot of information to wade thru.
High temps in the single digits is not helping matters, but I think I'm going to clean up the engine as best as possible and do some observing and then move towards a pressure test.
The PO ordered me a rear heater replacement valve so I'll install that when it gets here.

According to the maintenance records the system was flushed recently, however, I suspect the coolant to be of the phosphate kind. Does this need to be swapped out immediately?

[Amskeptic]

I suspect the coolant to be of the phosphate kind. Does this need to be swapped out immediately?

Enjoy . . . especially the part about how Volkswagen's prior antifreeze (G11) does not play well with the later (G12) stuff, causing "gel" in the cooling system.

A lot of horsepucky going on . . . I used good old Prestone in my Vanagon for over 100,000 miles.

http://donsnotes.com/home_garden/auto/antifreeze.html

[Ryno]

Nice Vanagon Chris!....You and the family are going to love it!

[yondermtn]

We're already in love. Daydreaming about camping next summer is just what we need when it's below zero

[aopisa]

Nice! I think I see a Vanagon in my future too.