Date: Thu, 21 May 2009 15:26:36 -0500
Reply-To: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Subject: Re: Thermostat soup: A comparison.
In-Reply-To: <001201c9d296$b1c90b40$155b21c0$@com>
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Robert,
Here is a rather radical method of bleeding the cooling system. I
discovered it quite by accident but it works. One other comment - as I
understand it, AT least on the 88 GL's lie mine with the 2.1L WBX engine
- and prol'ly for all 2.1L WBX'er's - the coolant ring around the engine
in the engine compartment helps self bleed that area and clear the
cooling system of small amounts of residual air. BUT, gross bleeding
must be done per the Bentley - or my alternative method described below.
By virtue of my mechanic failing to tighten the bleed screw on the
radiator properly, the crew fell out - fortunately when it was still in
the shop - just as I backed out of the shop to go home. The cooling
system had been flushed, refilled with coolant, and was ready for
another season. The mechanic told me that I may still have just a bit of
air, but it should work it's way out of the system via the cooling ring.
As I drove away, the engine warmed up, the thermostat opened and I
tooled on down the road. After driving a few miles, suddenly the low
level warning light came on. I stopped immediately and shut it down. The
themostat had been steady as a rok, hanging halfway between the light
and the cold marker. on the gauge. I was puzzled. Opened the rear hatch,
moved all my stuff around, lifted the engine cover, and looked in. Sure
enough, the coolant level was low enough to turn on the warning light.
Now I am always prepared with some elements of Vanagon travel, so I got
out my gallon container of premixed coolant, and refilled the coolant
reservoir. I buttoned it all up, and the instant I started the engine,
the coolant level light went out. I tooled on down the road a few more
miles. Sudden;y that stupid light came on again. I stopped, got out and
checked coolant level. Low again. Filled it again. Buttoned up and went
tooling one more time. One mile from my house, the light came on again.
Same routine, Stopped, looked, filled, closed up, and drove home.It was
night by now, the shop was closing as I left. Naught to do but wait
until tomorrow. Next day, I called the shop. Mechanic said bring it back
- must be a leak somewhere. Same game - light, stop, fill, tool, light
stop, fill. tool - but I stopped at a BP station for gas. After paying
and coming out for the place, I was a wet spot under the right front of
the car by the wheel, I looked and sure enough - it was coming from that
radiator plug location.I couldn't actually see it, but I was convinced.
When I arrived at the shop, the mechanic saw the missing plug, As he
screwed it n place, he said to me "I'll bet you all your bleeding
problems are solved!" Fact is - the problem was solved. No burping of
coolant, no air in the coolant reservoir.
So - you CAN use the red indicator light to help you get the cooling
system bled and running right. Just be sure and stop when the light
comes on.
Regards,
John Rodgers
88 GL Driver
Robert Fisher wrote:
> Stock '87 GL overheats at idle, radiator fan works on both speeds but has
> little/no effect. I got a new thermostat (FLAPS special) and pulled the old
> one. I don't remember what brand the old one is but it was supposed to be a
> good one and it is far beefier in construction; iirc I got it at the local
> import parts place back when but they were closed so I got this new one. Old
> one is maybe 7 yrs. old, but does not have a lot of miles/cycles on it.
>
> In boiling water, the new one opens to about 3/8" fairly quickly and also
> closes fairly quickly. The old one opens (to my surprise), but to a little
> less than a 1/4", and takes its sweet time opening and closing. On the one
> hand, I'm thinking I might run the new one for the meantime, get myself
> another 'better' one and swap them out keeping the FLAPS thermostat for a
> spare. On the other hand, the old one didn't really give me much for my
> money. I normally keep a spare around; I don't know what happened to it,
> hence the FLAPS piece.
>
> I know there's widely varying quality in these things, sometimes even within
> brands and I've found them dead out of the box, which is why I check them (I
> don't recall seeing one that 'partially' worked, however). I've also seen
> ppl argue for strictly OEM thermostats here on the list but I'm a long way
> from any VW dealer.
>
> Thoughts? Recommendations?
>
>
>
> Cya,
>
> Robert
>
>
>
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