Date: Sat, 8 Jun 2002 09:47:32 -0700
Reply-To: Dana Morphew <kadm@PUGETSOUND.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dana Morphew <kadm@PUGETSOUND.NET>
Organization: Dana's Mobile Carpet Steam
Subject: Re: bleeding coolant solution?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed
> By pumping fluid into the system from the back end while the system is cold, ...
> Ed Carroll
> 87 Weekender
Here's a post from Darrell Boehler that follows along these lines. I have tried his method with my I4 conversion and have had good results.
-Dana
"The following setup using a bike tire pump seems to over come some of
the problems that can develop when flushing, or replacing coolant in the
cooling system on our water cooled vans. It seems that the coolant pump
sometimes gets air locked, it has happened to me and this past weekend it
happened to Steve, it is very scary and our heads can get hot in a hurry.
The following is easy and has worked well for me. I use this instead of
the 2k rpm bentley procedure. You can do the whole process with the engine
off, it makes coolant changing so easy we can all do it every year and quite
possibly our precious heads will last a bit longer.
Take an old bike tire pump and chop off the
hose near the end that you would normally attach to the inner tube. If
you are lucky this hose will be the proper size to attach to the coolant cap
connector on the left coolant expansion tank. This cap normally has a
hose on it that goes over to the right tank. The hose on my bike pump split
after a few uses and I replaced it with some 7mm fi hose that I had sitting
around.
If you fill the left tank with coolant you should get coolant into the
engine and many of the lower hoses, sometimes it trickles down slowly. Now
with the left tank full use the bike pump, 2-3 pumps will probably be
enough to force the coolant up the long hoses and into the radiator, you
will see the coolant level in the left tank lower as it fills the radiator.
So with some pressure on the system loosen the bleeder screw and the air
will be purged from the radiator being replaced by the coolant from the
left
tank. If you are alone just tighten the bleeder screw a bit and refill the
left
tank and repeat the process again. Once coolant comes out the bleeder screw,
if the front of the van is raised, most all the air is out of the system.
You will probably want to check the bleeder screw for air again after
running the engine a bit to be sure
there is none left in the system. Any time you want to check for air in the
system or check for leaks just use the pump and put a little pressure on the
system. This setup has been simple and flawless for me. Just keep in
mind that the tire pump is capable of delivering 80 psi and our beloved
vans use 10-15 psi in the cooling system, so just a few strokes on the pump
will be enough.
Darrell Boehler
Makanda Illinois"
|