Date:         Mon, 8 Mar 2004 18:15:20 -0600
Reply-To:     Larry Alofs <lalofs@RCN.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Larry Alofs <lalofs@RCN.COM>
Subject:      Re: cooling system design / Reinvention of the Wheel Banished!
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed

George Goff wrote:
> In a message dated 3/8/04 9:36:47 AM, gull@GULL.US writes:
>
> << The technical problem is there's no room for an expansion bottle above the
> radiator in the Vanagon. ;)
>
> David Brodbeck, N8SRE >>
>
> Finally, the plain and simple truth!
>
> George
>

I question this "simple truth".
My '92 Ch*rokee has an expansion bottle that is lower than the radiator.
  The radiator has an old fashioned Stant type cap.  When the coolant
expands with temperature and the pressure gets high enough, the excess
coolant goes thru a tube to the bottom of the expansion tank over on the
other side of the engine.  This tank is at atmospheric pressure and is
normally kept about half full.  When the coolant cools and contracts in
the engine and radiator, coolant is drawn back in from the tank.  This
system is generally agreed in the J**p community to be superior to the
older "closed" system which had a pressure bottle with an air space.
   It seems to me that if there was some way to attach the proper
pressure valve at the bleeder opening on the radiator, an overflow
bottle could be mounted anywhere within a reasonable distance and the
exact height would not be critical.  This would make the air self-bleed
from the radiator.

Larry A.