Date: Mon, 1 Mar 2004 18:35:42 -0500
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Subject: Re: Coolant priming question
In-Reply-To: <004301c3ffe1$7dc65420$d9032a45@ttower17def>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Here is my procedure again.
Do not warm up the engine. A warm engine makes the coolant turn to vapor
with the coolant system open. This makes bleeding difficult. Also, never
add coolant to a hot running engine. Helps make warped heads. Also,
there is no need to raise the front. In fact it makes things harder as
you have to raise the coolant that much further to bleed the system. Try
this procedure.
1) Engine should be dead cold. If not successful bleeding in 10 minutes,
Walk away, have lunch, beer etc, come back later.
2) Prepare coolant supply, have ready. Pre-mixing will make it easier to
keep proper ratio.
3) Open thermostat bypass valve and valves to both heater cores.
4) Fill main reservoir as much as possible. Allow time for as much
coolant to fill into engine as possible.
5) Start engine. Use something to hold engine speed around 2,000 to
2,500 rpm.
6) Open radiator bleeder (partner will help).
7) Continue to fill cooling system while air is being expelled from
bleeder and reservoir.
8) When both flow water steadily, close radiator bleeder, then reinstall
cooling pressure cap, (It was tested and know to be good?). You can also
close the bypass now.
9) Allow engine to return to normal idle speed.
10) Return heater valves to where you want them. Test system. Make sure
radiator fan works. Don't forget to top off the expansion tank behind
the license plate. Any residual air will eventually work its way out. If
not, than you a problem.
11) After van is operated for a while, test coolant concentration to
make certain you have the proper mixture, (50-70%).
It does work!
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of vanagon
Sent: Monday, March 01, 2004 6:04 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Coolant priming question
Okay,
I have replaced the coolant in my 85 Vanagon several times and have
tried to do it exactly as the Bentley book prescribes. It seems somewhat
difficult and can get messy.
I am about to do this on my 87 Syncro shortly.
Here's the question: Has anybody found an easier way to do this?
Purging all the air out easily?
I have a couple ideas but do not know if they would work.
Anybody want to discuss this?
By the way, when I first purchased my 85 several years ago, I made the
mistake of removing the rear heater, I did clamp the hoses but likely
still got some small air in the system and thought the overflow would
purge it off. I later blew one of the small hoses behind the crank
pulley and lost cooling on the way up to Tahoe with my girl. I believe
the Vanagon is especially sensitive to any air in the cooling system and
a bugger to purge. Very different than my Ford Ranger.
Thanks!
Doug
