Date: Thu, 4 Aug 2005 06:18:17 -0400
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Subject: Re: bleeding the cooling system....
In-Reply-To: <85.2cec33b2.302340c1@aol.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
No, you do not want to warm the engine up before bleeding the cooling
system. Both the 1.8 and 2.1 have a valve to bypass the t-stat to help
get the air out of their. There is also no reason to raise the front of
the van and in fact that makes bleeding the system harder as the pump
will have to lift higher. Here is a procedure that works
Get a helper
Fill main coolant expansion tank. Fill slowly, allow time for coolant to
fill engine and as many hoses as possible.
Open both heater valves and the small bypass valve if possible.
Start engine. Increase speed to ~2,000 rpm. Use screwdriver or something
to hold throttle open. Keep eye on expansion bottle, keep it full.
Have friend open bleeder on radiator.
Keep filling expansion tank.
When coolant is coming out of radiator, close bleeder.
Install pressure cap and connect the hose. Make sure somehow it is good.
It is always toasted after any overheating due to the plastic valves or
seals melting.
Allow engine to return to idle speed. Close bypass and heater valves.
Add coolant to reserve tank. Watch for the next day or two. Level will
go down as any air remaining is purged out/
You are done. All this should be done in ~5 minutes. Once the engine
gets warm, bleeding is difficult due to the coolant vaporizing. It is
hard to remove gasses once you have steam.
If the cooling system is working properly, any air remaining will work
out after a few heat cool cycles. If not, you have a bad pressure cap, a
leak somewhere, or the head gaskets are leaking internally. If still
overheating, check the thermostat and radiator. Of course, make sure the
fan is working properly.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of John Carpenter
Sent: Thursday, August 04, 2005 5:58 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: bleeding the cooling system....
In a message dated 8/3/2005 7:31:46 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
aflores14@CSUB.EDU writes:
I just replaced the water pump on an 84 Westy and now need to bleed the
cooling system. I have attempted several different methods and thus far
only have
an incredibly hot running Vanagon and $40 worth of coolant all over my
driveway.
Any suggestions on how to bleed the cooling system?
.
Warm it up, Jack the front end way up (20in)
loosen the top bleed bolt on the radiator
until the air bubbles stop.
Wearing gloves, mush the rubber hoses
where you can to work the bubbles out.
The 2.1 has another bleed valve at the thermostat.
But I don't know about the 1.9.
Even after all of this,
I found, when my A/C is on, mine runs a little too hot,
and I'm going to get a new radiator from Bus Depot.
They run $149.
best,
John C...
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