Date:         Tue, 20 May 2003 22:58:50 EDT
Reply-To:     DSF70@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dustin Fitch <DSF70@AOL.COM>
Subject:      was "..Air prevents fan? - AIR BLEED PROCEDURE
Comments: cc: SEAN.GARRETT@asu.edu
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Yes, sorry for the delay, I was out for a day.  Ok, here is the procedure for
bleeding air when filling the coolant:

Engine stone cold
Make sure all hoses are installed correctly. Direction of coolant flow does
matter.
Open both heater valves.
Open t-stat bypass valve.
Remove pressure cap
Fill main bottle; keep filling...if level goes down, block is filling up.
Get friend to help
Start engine and hold fast idle.  2,000-2,500 rpm.
Open radiator bleeder screw
Keep main bottle filled, coolant will go down to fill radiator and heater
circuits
When steady stream comes out of radiator, close bleeder screw.
top off main tank, install cap.
Allow engine to return to normal idle (if cap is not on, the collant will
flow back out)
Re-install hose from cap to rear expansion tank.
You should be done bleeding.
Observe operation.  Make sure water is flowing to both heaters (you get
heat).  If so, turn them off.  This should take less than 5 minutes.

As engine approaches normal temp, make sure water is flowing through
radiator, when radiator gets hot, make sure fan operates.

If water does not flow through the radiator, the system may be air locked
again.  Let it cool down and repeat the bleed.  Top off expansion tank.  Look
for leaks, make sure all is well and thermo switch is connected and relay is
good.  SMALL amounts of air will work out after a few warm up cool down
cycles without bleeding air at radiator again if the system is healthy.  Make
sure the pressure cap is working;.  If water is not flwoing, the fan will
never turn on as the fan switch is int he radiator.  The radiator can also
crack internally allowing the water to enter and exit without flowing
throught the core.