Date: Sat, 17 Dec 2005 06:35:21 EST
Reply-To: RAlanen@AOL.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Frank Condelli <RAlanen@AOL.COM>
Subject: Re: Bleeding Coolant on a 2.1L syncro
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
In a message dated 16/12/2005 6:43:42 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:
My heat is really poor in my 1986 2.1L syncro. I'd like to bleed the
coolant can anyone point me to a good description of how to?
Chris, first off, I don't think you need to bleed your coolant system. If
the van has been running fine and not overheating and you have not recently
flushed and refilled your coolant system, then the coolant system is bleed of
all air already. The 2.1 coolant system has a self bleeding design. That's
the purpose of that tube running around the perimeter of the top of the engine
compartment that has all those hoses connected to it. If you have poor
heating then there are other problems. Possibly the front heater core is blocked
from corrosion or the fins are blocked from dirt & debrtis. I had one I
took apart last week for overhaul and the fins were completley, and I mean
completley, plugged up with dirt, dust bunnies, mouse droppings, fur, you name it
it was in there ! Next problem the heater vent flaps are not working
properly or their seals have deteriorated. Next problem could be your thermosate is
not operating properly. Next problem could be your heater coolant valve is
not opening all the way. Maybe more that I can't think of so early in the
morning.
Now, if you still want to bleed your coolant system quickly and
efficiently here is how it is done and works perfectly every time. Start the engine
from cold, open the bleeder valve on the top of the thermostat housing, open
the main coolant tank and while the engine is warming up add coolant until
the tank is full, let the engine warm up a few minutes, have another person
hold or block the throttle valve with a screwdriver so that the RPMs stay around
3000, go to the front rad where you already have removed the upper grill and
have a 13 mm open end spanner ready, open the bleed bolt on the RH top of
the rad, when only fluid is coming out and no air bubbles, close the bolt, fill
the main coolant tank, replace the cap, reduce the idle, close the bleed
valve on top of the thermostat housing and viola your done. Make sure the
overflow tank is full to the MAX mark. After a couple of heating & cooling cycles
the system may take on a bit more coolant and expunge any remaining air
through its designed air bleeding system so check the overflow tank frequently
and refill as needed.
Cheers,
Frank Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
'87 Westy, '90 Carat, '87 Wolfsburg (Forsale) & Lionel Trains
Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley
_Frank Condelli & Associates_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html)
_Vanagon Stainless Steel Exhaust Systems_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm)
_BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm) a VW Camper
camping event, Almonte, ON, June 08 ~ 11, 2006
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