Date:         Sun, 21 Sep 2003 11:22:49 -0700
Reply-To:     laurasdog@WEIRDSTUFFWEMAKE.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Steve Delanty <laurasdog@WEIRDSTUFFWEMAKE.COM>
Subject:      Re: Sunday morning, radiator change
In-Reply-To:  <BAY2-DAV13OVrY6tZXl0000694b@hotmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

KEP sells a handy little item that I think makes the bleeding
process easier. It's a little assembly that has a banjo fitting,
bolt, copper washers, a small needle valve and a few inches
of 1/4" O.D. copper tubing.
Here's a photo of one installed so you get the idea:
<http://www.weirdstuffwemake.com/automotive/vanagon/suburvan/coolingSystem/bleederValve01.jpg>

It replaces the stock bleeder screw on the radiator and allows
you to connect a 3' piece of 1/4" I.D. vinyl tubing to the radiator
bleeder and shove the other end into a bucket with a few inches
of coolant in it.
This allows you to open the valve and do the standard 1500
RPM bleed routine, but any coolant that spews out of the
radiator bleeder is caught in the bucket instead of on the ground.
Also (and this is the good part) if you stop revving the engine,
instead of sucking air back into the radiator bleeder, it will
suck coolant from the bucket instead.

You can also use it for a kind of "front fill" by setting a bucket
of coolant on the roof and using a piece of hose to siphon coolant
from the bucket into the radiator bleeder.
I think it's a pretty handy item...

Cheers,

Steve
EJ22 -> '86 Westy "Escape Pod"