Help! Another 2.0 16v pickup in peril

[mr.utility at highstream.net (David Utley)]

Eric,
  I am no help as the whether the outlet is an item that commonly leaks, as I 
am new to 16Vs (as you know)...  However, the symptoms you are describing 
sound like it has an air bubble in the system.  Again, I don't have the 
experience with the 16V like I do the 8V, but that is what it sounds like to 
me.  

Try this:  With the car cold, take the cap off.  Rev the engine to at least 
3.5K, and keep it there.  As it warms, if there is a bubble, it will power 
itself out of the system and into the bottle.  If the water level drops in the 
bottle, then you know you found it.  If it does not drop by the time the fan 
kicks on, then you indeed do not have air in the system.

HTH

David Utley

Quoting Eric S <scirocco@vintagewatercooleds.com>:

> 
> Its in peril of being junked if it doesn't stop acting up.
> 
> Background:
> 
> Instrument cluster has been reading high coolant temps for some time
> now...verified with *2* different meters that it is *incorrect*.  I
> haven't verified it yet after all the work mentioned below, but a "lazer
> style" temp reader, and a different VDO temp guage verified that as soon
> as the head hit 100C, the rad fan would come on. (meanwhile, the interior
> guage was reading at the red line).
> 
> Regardless, it blew its HG not too long ago...this was a minor blow, oil
> only seeping out the back of the head, nothing getting burned or mixing of
> fluids.
> 
> HG was replaced, as was lower radiator hose, heater core, heater valve,
> and that silly Y shaped hose that goes to the head,WP and oil cooler.
> 
> Problem:  Really, I'm down to a issue that I can't seem to get rid of.  I
> replaced the above said Y hose because when I pulled the head I could see
> it was a bit crusty (the flange was...this is the flange that the upper
> rad hose also hooks to).  Well, I slapped it all together before I got the
> new hose, and sure enough, it leaked a TON.  So, again, I drop the coolant
> (I had some T-stat issues too...this was the 4th time now I have dropped
> the coolant after the HG swap)...replace that Y hose, burp the system,
> everything *seems* ok...fan cycles (but only on for VERY brief periods),
> coolant seems to be circulating fine (rad getting hot)...but, that DAMN
> connection at the head and that Y hose is LEAKING AGAIN! Its a new hose,
> high quality hose clamp (worm gear type)...I just dont get it.  Plus, I
> drove it to work today, and it almost overheated...fan wasn't coming on
> that I could tell, turning on the heater did pull the temps down.
> 
> I am SICK to death of coolant and 16v engine nightmares are occuring...any
> suggestions, BTDTs welcome...is that coolant flange on the head a common
> issue?  I'm almost wondering if the crustyness was the flange had been
> eroded or something...
> 
> -- 
> Eric
> www.vintagewatercooleds.com
> 
> 79 VW Iltis
> 81 Rabbit Truck 2.0 16v
> 81 Scirocco S (TDI Swap project)
> 90 Corrado TDI
> 91 Cabriolet (2.0 Crossflow swap project)
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Scirocco-l mailing list
> Scirocco-l@scirocco.org
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> 



David Utley
-----------
Cable Volkswagen
405-470-3129
1-800-522-6793