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Date:         Wed, 19 Jul 2000 15:57:37 -0700
Reply-To:     Brent Christensen <brent@vanagon.com>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Brent Christensen <brent@vanagon.com>
Subject:      Re: Coolant Flush Decison
Comments: To: PSavage <psavage@saber.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

My advice is to go with the German guy. I would NEVER trust a vanagon cooling system to a "quick-turnaround" place. They will never bleed the system correctly. You'll end up with erratic overheating, and constant trouble with the cooling system until it is bled by someone that knows what they are doing.

If you replace the coolant often enough (i..e. yearly) then "backflushing" shouldn't be that big of an issue.

That's my $0.02...

Brent Christensen '89 GL Syncro Westy "Klaus" Santa Barbara, CA

----- Original Message ----- From: "PSavage" <psavage@saber.net> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> Sent: Wednesday, July 19, 2000 12:25 PM Subject: Coolant Flush Decison

> My wild surging@idle prob is history! Time to move on to coolant flush. > I've got two situations to choose from. Can you help me out here? > Situation #1: I spoke to one guy, the nice German owner of his own > shop. He knows "the list," which can't be a bad thing! He can flush and > bleed my '85 Westy 4sp by hand, but can't back flush. > He can also replace my thermostat while he's at it, which I feel is a good > idea since I suspect it of being flaky. > He mentioned the coolant hoses need a look before scheduling the flush. I > agree. > The Bus Depot complete set, if need be, is $320-350, depending on my ch#. > Where can I find a chassis # on the van? If I provide coolant & > thermostat, his charge for the manual flush/bleed/thermostat replacement is > $137.50 (2.5hrs). This sound about right? On the phone, I liked the guy. > He didn't mind taking the time to discuss the project with me. Then again, > maybe he's got no business in his shop! > Anybody have any dealings with Bernhard's Autobahn in Ukiah, CA? > Situation #2: This place does all types of cars. They have a machine > that they claim can back flush. They can't install a new thermostat, which > I assume needs doing same time? It's a quick turnaround place, I'm > guessing, but they DO back flush: Cost $55. > To recap my questions: > #1 Is the back flush so critical that I should pay one place to do it, > then turn around and have the German place install the thermostat--at > considerable extra labor cost? > #2 Is there wisdom in replacing All coolant hoses at same time, even > if some are OK? > #3 Where is my chassis # located? > #4 Are these estimates in the ballpark? > #5 Anything else I should be concerned about? > May the goddess bless the collective wisdom & good humor of "The List." > Phaedra > '85 4spWesty-Wolf > "Hester"


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