Date:         Tue, 26 Aug 2003 08:20:21 -0600
Reply-To:     Andrew Fox <afox@CNR.COLOSTATE.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Andrew Fox <afox@CNR.COLOSTATE.EDU>
Subject:      Re: Overheating while bleeding?
Comments: To: Keith Adams <keith_adams@TRANSCANADA.COM>,
          DanHaydon@cornerstonesoftware.com
In-Reply-To:  <vanagon%2003082600192217@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

On Tue, 26 Aug 2003, Keith Adams wrote:

> Fricking frackin van.  My 86 2WD Westy has been running a little warm
> (have to turn the heater on sometimes) so I figure I'd better bleed it
> to be sure there's no air in it.  So I park it up on the ramps,

How do you know its running warm, from the temp gauge? LOL!  Those
bastards (i mean VW) have been changing the specs on the vanagon temp
sensor for years so if you replace it with a new one it will appear to run
warm according to the crummy gauge on the dash.  The temp reporting system
in the vanagon sucks, dont depend on it.  Like all of the other electrical
systems in teh Vanagon it is exremley prone to small problems with
grounds, etc.  If you want to know if its runnng hot get a $50 IR
thermometer from radio shack or invent a better gauge.


> expansion cap off and it's up to temp, but I'm getting nothing from the
> thermostat bleed screw, some air from the rad, but I can tell if it's

I bet the engine is idling at 800 rpms or so when your checking the
radiator bleed screw?  In order for air to come out of the radioator bleed
screw rpms need to be 2000 or higher.  Thats why its a 2 person job.
With the system open there isnt enough pressure to push the coolant out
the bleed screw at idle speeds (I know its amazing that this half assed
cooling system actually works).

> Thoughts?  Bad thermostat (rad was warm, but no coolant from bleed
> screw).  Did I screw something up in the procedure?

Dont replace a single part until you get that IR thermometer and find out
if the van is actually overheating on the road.

Andrew Fox
87 Westy Parts Van
98 Ford E-150