Date:         Tue, 11 May 2004 16:27:59 -0700
Reply-To:     TJ Hannink <tjhannink@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         TJ Hannink <tjhannink@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: Draining the coolant system... ?
Comments: To: Doug in Calif <vanagon@ASTOUND.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <002301c437a6$497b1b40$d9032a45@ttowerdef17>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Doug in Calif <vanagon@ASTOUND.NET> wrote:

You are raising the REAR?__________________________________________________________________

I'm not Zolo, but I'll answer: Yes, I raise the rear of the van, so the top of the coolant reservoir is level with the top of the radiator, opening the heater valve, radiator bleeder and thermostat bypass valve. You can remove the reservoir cap without losing any coolant.

> How did you decide to just blow off the Official Service Manual procedure from Bentley.

__________________________________________________________________

I tried it this way and it worked. I've tried the Bentley way and it kinda works too, but this is a lot easier, especially since I usually have the rear end of the van jacked up already to work on the motor..


> By what authority can you say your procedure works?
___________________________________________________________________

Mine; also I fill my cooling system this way without running the motor and get it completely full.

> How do you know you are getting ALL the air out?
____________________________________________________________________

After I did it the first time, I used the Bentley method and attempted to bleed it but got nothing but coolant out. Now I don't bother and haven't had to add any coolant afterwards the three other times I have done it this way. My van doesn't overheat and I drive it daily in +70F weather.

> Why not follow the Bentley book? Just too difficult to follow? too much hassle?
_____________________________________________________________________

I've found that it isn't necessary when filling the system this way, its just extra work.

Good luck,






TJ Hannink
Goldibox - 1987 Vanagon Camper, Wolfsburg Edition
Winter Park, Florida
http://home.earthlink.net/~tjhannink/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wolfsburg_campers
http://photos.yahoo.com/tjhannink [Vanagon] Album
FAVOR website:  http://home.earthlink.net/~clubvanagon

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