Date:         Fri, 15 Jul 2005 23:30:35 -0400
Reply-To:     Don in North Carolina <vanagondon@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Don in North Carolina <vanagondon@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: bleeding coolant system?
Comments: To: Trvlr2001@aol.com
In-Reply-To:  <e0.1783fc59.3009d269@aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

On 7/15/05, John Carpenter <Trvlr2001@aol.com> wrote:
> Hi All,
> I'm trying to bleed the coolant system.
> Is there just the two places to bleed?
> The Radiator & the Thermostat housing?
> I see in the manual that the system should be drained
> just below the heads? Is this on the block?
> Mostly though, What's the trick with the bleeder on the thermostat  housing?
> I can turn it counter clockwise about three turns,
> but nothing comes out?
> Not coolant, not air?
> Does it also need to be pressed?
> Need a heads up on this one fer sure !
> Thanks,
> John C...

John,

When you turn the bleed knob on the top of the thermostat housing,
coolant (and any air that is trapped) flows up the small tube to the
coolant manifold.  To bleed the system, raise the front end of the van
in the air, open the bleed on the thermostat housing, open the bleed
screw on the radiator and run the engine up to ~2500 rpm, adding
coolant as needed to the expansion tank as the level goes down.  Close
the bleed screw on the radiator once coolant is the only thing coming
out (no air), close the bleed on the thermostat, replace the cap on
the expansion tank and THEN let the engine go to idle.

-- 
Don in Reidsville, NC
1986 Kawasaki Concours
1988 Vanagon GL (Sylvia)
"Why do they call it a fixed income, if mine is always broke?"