Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2008 10:14:06 -0400
Reply-To: craig cowan <phishman068@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: craig cowan <phishman068@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Overheating at idle
In-Reply-To: <4cb8e63b0808210648o10ddfdcg6b49aff791114c31@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
I've got a fairly simple way of telling if there's air in the system, and
bleeding it.......
Drive the van around untill the thermostat's open, then park it in your
driveway or wherever you can stop for a bit, with the nose up hill....let it
run a bit. Then shut off the car, pull the upper grill off, and take the
bleeder nut all the way out of the radiator. Did coolant gush out? Be
careful, it's hot. If coolant gushed out, you MAY be okay. Leave it off (or
put it back on), but leave it parked there for a while untill it cools down.
After a while, (maybe you ran and ate a sandwich), open up the bleeder again
(Engine off), and insert a small length of hose that's just the right
diameter to have space between the outside wall of the hose and the inside
diameter of the bleeder hole....attach it to your favorite funnel, and start
to pour in some coolant. Is it taking some? Then there was air in your
system. Fill it up until it's coming out a bit, then recap it......drive
around.....park on a hill....eat a sandwich, etc etc etc untill it no longer
takes any.
This system just worked out really well for me in the past, the bently
methods are confusing and just don't seem to work.....
-Craig
'85 Westy (Built with many sandwiches)
On Thu, Aug 21, 2008 at 9:48 AM, Tom Rowsell <86westy@geoexploits.org>wrote:
> Hi Ed:
>
> Yes, I certainly did suspect air in the system, but after repeating the
> various front up, back up, etc bleeding exercises as outlined in the
> Bentley, and on various reputable how-to websites, my suspicions have
> expanded :)
> Thanks
> Tom
>
> On Thu, Aug 21, 2008 at 10:42 AM, Edward Duntz <eduntz@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Wouldn't you suspect some air in the system, particularly in the
> radiator?
> > The radiator SHOULD be getting hot enough to kick the fan on. Wasn't
> someone
> > else on the list having a similar problem recently?
> >
> > Ed in CT
> >
> > > Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2008 10:27:04 -0300
> > > From: 86westy@GEOEXPLOITS.ORG
> > > Subject: Re: Overheating at idle
> >
> > > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > >
> > > It's been a few days...I still can't figure out what's going wrong, so
> > I've
> > > ordered a new water pump, hoping that that's the problem. I have no
> > record
> > > of the water pump ever being replaced, so at 291,000kms (180,000
> miles),
> > a
> > > new one is not a bad idea anyhow :)
> > > Belt's not slipping, but I put a new one on anyway. I also removed the
> > > thermostat, and it's opening fine in boiling water...
> > > Once my knuckles recover from the pump replacement, I'll report more...
> > >
> > > Tom
> > >
> > > On Thu, Aug 14, 2008 at 1:09 PM, gary hradek <hradek@yahoo.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > > Tom,
> > > > Might it be something as simple as the belt slipping?
> > > > What was the nature of the leak and what did you top off with as
> > coolant?
> > > > gary
> > > >
> > > > From: "Tom Rowsell" <86westy@GEOEXPLOITS.ORG>
> > > > >> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> > > > >> Sent: Wednesday, August 13, 2008 11:37 PM
> > > > >> Subject: Overheating at idle
> > > > >>
> > > > >>
> > > > >>> My '86 recently began overheating but only at idle...drive all
> day
> > on
> > > > the
> > > > >>> highway and it's fine, but stop and idle for a few minutes, and
> the
> > > > >>> temperature climbs. Rev the engine and the temp returns to
> normal.
> > Even
> > > > >>> after a 15 minute drive: stop and idle, and it'll get hot.
> > > > >>> I recently had a leak, so it might be an air lock problem ? I'm
> > > > thinking
> > > > >>> the
> > > > >>> water pump or the thermostat. It's not the fan since the radiator
> > never
> > > > >>> seems to get hot enough to kick that on. I guess tomorrow's job
> is
> > pull
> > > > >>> the
> > > > >>> thermostat and check it? There are no unusual noises from the
> water
> > > > >>> pump...
> > > > >>> As usual, all advice and critiques appreciated :)
> > > > >>>
> > > > >>> Thanks
> > > > >>> Tom
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> >
> > ------------------------------
> > Get thousands of games on your PC, your mobile phone, and the web with
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> >
>
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