Coolant issue. Is garage at fault.

[touch107fm]

Hello all

I am hoping I can get some help with my T4 2.5 1997 Transporter. I love my t4 even had the missus driving the van for the first time yesterday as we are thinking of getting rid of the run around car.. I was never so nervous I drive my van with tinder loving care and the missus was wondering where the power was (she likes a fast car)..

Anyways back to the issue about 3 months ago a friend borrowed the van and it broke down on him (never letting mates borrow van again fact!!) I got it towed back and the van perfect when I got it back, no problems at all. I brought it in to the garage to get checked out and get the timing belt and water pump replaced no problems there. Next weekend I am towing a boat with the van and she brakes down stops at lights and wont budge and it lashing it down with rain. Manage to park it up and see coolant coming out of the bottom of the van.. Have they stuffed up the water pump or coolant system somewhere?

Bring it back to the garage and they check it out and can find no issue with any of it.. That was over three months ago since then I have a couple of time when the coolant has came out of the expansion tank and down into the distributor cap and she miss fires until I fix it by clean out the cap. Silly design having the tank above the cap!!
I have had the same thing happen about 10 time since then it I have been driving for over a hour coolant will most likely come out of the expansion tank I have a left a rag under the cant to try and avoid coolant getting in the cap.
I am a bit angry with myself as I left it so long and not brought back to the garage.
A couple of questions:
Could it be the type of coolant being used.
Does the coolant need to be a certain grade.
Any idea on why this is happening now, what causes the coolant to get to stage where they is so much pressure in the system (could it be a cracked head, dodgy water pump or when the guys installed the water pump they didn't do a good job and they was air locks in the system.

Must add the temp gauge never goes over half way.
Super cheap is having a sale on coolant was thinking of buying the most expensive coolant and flushing the system again. I only use the van on the weekend so doesn't get much use. Do you think I could bring still bring it back to the garage and get them to check out the coolant issue without getting charged as they was no coolant issue prior to the van getting the belt and water cooler replaced!!!

Many thanks
Dara
Sydney

[IN2VWS]

There is a problem that needs addressing, and no amount of expensive coolant is going to fix it.
All my previously owned T4's had the VW coolant in it, not the generic green stuff. From memory, the VW stuff is G12 coolant, and is red in colour - Volkswagen specifies phosphate/silicate-free antifreeze in all their vehicles.

Check the thermostat in the cooling system.

[touch107fm]

Thanks for the reply, Yes I have the generic green coolant and I agree with you about fixing the issue before i put in more coolant in there.

With regards the thermostat where is it located and what I am looking for, how do you know if it needs replacing. I had a scan done at the same shop where I done the water pump and there was no errors.

Cheers

[Sunny43.5]

Silly question have you noticed when the van stops and coolant comes out do you notice whether the thermo fans are working as if it was overheating then they would come on to cool the radiator . Naturally whilst you are driving normally the air flow would be sufficient to keep the engine at the correct temp , my sons T4 2.5 its thermo fans come on after he pulls into our driveway if he has been giving it a bit of stick plus we live at the top of a very steep hill and this sometimes triggers the thermo fans . In the old days if you allowed the car to overheat they would misfire as the engine would get so hot it would cause fuel vapour lock. Next silly one is T4,s were known for a faulty relay which would cause them to just stop mid stream . All the ignition lights would come on and the engine would turn over but not start then without warning they start again , these are jut a couple of things to check , one last thing and I will not give much thought to this one was the garage experienced with VW,s ? . Howard
PS I agree with IN2VW,S the type of coolant short term would not have much bearing as its the anti corrosive properties of the coolant that is more important . Also a PM to Jmac might shed some light he is a VWT4 wiz .