Date:         Sun, 12 Oct 2008 18:04:13 -0700
Reply-To:     mdrillock <mdrillock@COX.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         mdrillock <mdrillock@COX.NET>
Subject:      Re: Removing radiator bleeder screw
Comments: To: Allan Streib <streib@CS.INDIANA.EDU>
In-Reply-To:  <m1od1ptjfi.fsf@cs.indiana.edu>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

You don't need to remove the bolt to get the air out. Once the engine is
running and warmed up the coolant expands and pressure builds in the
system with the cap relief valve set at about 15 psi.  If you then
loosen the radiator bleed bolt a turn the pressure in the system will
release out of the radiator bleed hole, pushing out air if any is there
or coolant if not. If too much air is in there you may have to repeat
this a time or 2, keeping the main tank full and letting things cool
down between bleeds. Bleeding air from the radiator is thus so simple
that I don't see any need for some contraption to add coolant into the
bleed hole.

I have bled so many Vanagon radiators so many times without fully
removing the bolt that I don't see any reason to do so. When filling a
completely empty coolant system removing the bolt can speed up the
process and I do that sometimes.

Mark

Allan Streib wrote:
> "Scott Daniel  - Turbovans" <scottdaniel@turbovans.com> writes:
>
>
>> well...........
>> it didn't occur to you to lower the radiator a little bit ?
>>
>
> Nope.  Didn't know it was possible.
>
>
>> if there's any indication that it's not working right, and you think
>> it's lack of 110 % extra thorough bleeding...........  especially at
>> this time of the year..................that's not it.  Something else
>> is wrong.
>>
>
> No real indication, other than the car will slowly get hot if I'm not
> driving, the radiator fan never comes on, and the top of the radiator is
> cold.  I think it's half full (or more) of air.
>
> Allan
> --
> 1991 Vanagon GL
>
>
>