Date:         Sun, 15 Sep 2002 20:16:11 EDT
Reply-To:     Fonni0365@CS.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Fonni Chang <Fonni0365@CS.COM>
Subject:      Re: Help! Changing coolant of 91 Westy...Thanks
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

I like to thank James, Jerry and Tim for their helps in changing coolant in
my 91 Westy. I also like to thank Ben for the detail step-by-step description
on his Web site on changing coolant, filling and bleed
(www3.sympatico.ca/huotx/engine1.htm). I did it, and I think I can do it
again.
I was not able to drain all the coolant, as James said, I pool together all
the old coolant and I estimated that I manage to drain only about 3 Gal of
it. I drain by removing the drain plug under the engine, and disconnected the
rubber host next to the right hand side of the rear wheel. I follow James
instruction and flush the cooling system, drain again. I figure there should
be about 1.5 Gal of water left inside the system. I fill the cooling system
first with 2.5 Gal of Havoline Dex-Cool, then continue to fill up the rest
with water. I did the filling by raising the front end of the Westy, apply
the handbrake, and a block of brick at the back of each back tire. The Westy
is too heavy, I am simply not confident enough to raise the Westy 12-15
inches from the back. The front wheel is free, I am not sure my wheel stops
will be strong enough to hold the Van. Tim's procedure should work, but I
dare not try it in my garage.
Filling the cooling system is not as complicated as Ben's procedure
described, but it was truly messy. I have my wife control the engine RPM at
about 2000, the coolant sucks in rapidly first, then slow down, I ran to the
front and found coolant shooting out of the radiator bleeder valve. I quickly
put on the screw and tighten it, then I ran to the rear seat grabbing a towel
on the way to clean my hand, I switch the heater valve to off (it was very
clean in there, no spill), I then ran to the engine area check the expansion
tank first, it was OK, I then quickly close the valve on top of the
thermostat, fill the expansion tank again, screw the cap back on and
reconnect the tube to the coolant tank. I lower the front end, let it idle
for a few minutes, loosen the radiator bleeder until some coolant spill out
then close it. I then turn off the engine and let it cool down. I examined
the expansion tank and found the coolant level went down about 1-1.5 inches,
I fill it up again, and add 50/50 coolant to the Max level in the coolant
tank. I then start the Westy, let it idle for about 5 minutes, I could feel
the radiator getting warm, I then did the test drive. I drove around the
block carefully watching the temp gauge, it stay slightly below the middle at
all time. I open the radiator bleeder valve slowly until some coolant spill
out and tighten again. I then let the Westy sit for a few hours, I check the
expansion tank again, again the coolant level went down about 1 inch, I fill
it up.
Today, I took the Westy for the longer test drive, and I drove a total of 82
miles, I careful watch the temperature gauge, again it was slightly below
halfway most of the time, except on the local traffic it move to half and
never over it.

Thanks people, I think I have done it.

Fonni,
91 Westy





I don't think you'll be able to get all the coolant out unless you
disconnect every pipe.  But at least pull off the lower radiator hose to
drain more coolant.  It's probably easier to access this at either end of
the long rigid pipe that runs underneath the van rather than at the
radiator.  If you look just behind the spare tire, there's a good place to
access it.  Follow the hoses to the radiator to see which one is the lower
hose.

To flush, disconect the expansion tank return hose.  This is the hose that
goes from the rear of th van (top of engine bay, just beneath the rear lip
above license plate door) to the expansion tank.  Route this hose into a
garden hose or funnel so it will empty into a bucket once you start
flushing.

Open the expansion tank cap and fill with water.  Start the van and let
idle, topping off the water with a garden hose as the level goes down.
Don't let the expansion tank run dry.  Have a helper rev the engine to 2000
and continue adding water.  Instead of returning into the expansion tank,
the water will be routed out to your bucket.  Be sure to capture old coolant
and dispose of properly.   Keep doing this until it runs clear.

It's my understanding that this won't flush the radiator, since the
thermostat is closed.  So, I just pulled off the upper and lower radiator
hoses and used a garden hose/nozzle to shoot water through it.  But I doubt
it did much good.

>I am not sure about the heater valve under the seat, would you please tell
>me
>the proximate location under the seat? I am also not sure where is the

The heater is, of course in the center beneath the rear seat.  With the seat
up, you should see a cicular opening in the passenger side of the heater
box.  In it, there's a plastic lever.  Pull toward the front of the van to
open.

>bleeder valve in the engine compartment, the picture in the book look very
>dark, I cannot tell. I found one valve on the far end from the coolant
>expansion tank, I can turn it with my fingers, is that it?

That should be the one.  It turns about one revolution, I think.

>I found the Official Repair Manual of Vanagon is for experience mechanic
>only. What I need is the Official Vanagon Repair Manual for Dummy... Thanks
>again

I've heard that the Haynes Manual is much easier to understand.

Good Luck,

James
90 Carat

>Fonni
>91 Westy
>
>
>Here is a link to  site with lots of good information for Vanagon owners
>new
>and old.
>
>     http://www3.sympatico.ca/huotx/engine1.htm
>
>Scroll down to the last item under "Cooling System".
>When you drained the old coolant, did you also remove the lower radiator
>hose? If not,
>you only drained the engine area.
>Ben (at the above site) makes it all seem pretty complicated, but the
>important part
>is to keep the RPM"s up while you add coolant. Also don't forget to open
>the
>heater
>valve under the rear seat. And while you are there, check the floor area
>around it for
>the site and smell of leaking coolant. This rear heater is known to develop
>leaks.
>You might also go to the www.vanagon.com site and see the resources there
>and
>even
>search the archives. They are full of information on this subject.
>Good luck,
>Jerry