Date:         Mon, 18 Jan 2010 00:53:48 -0500
Reply-To:     craig cowan <phishman068@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         craig cowan <phishman068@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Coolant flush?
Comments: To: Stephen Cebula <sfcebula@yahoo.com>
In-Reply-To:  <159288.2979.qm@web111413.mail.gq1.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

The PVC bong known as the "Libby Bong" is for filling it. Two of my favorite
ways to remove the coolant are to use the shop vac method, or to just take a
few hoses off. Usually if you take one of the hoses off in the engine bay
where they attach to the coolant pipes leading to the front of the van,
you'll get quite a bit of coolant out. You can then take an air compressor
and using your hand to make a seal, pump some air into the system which will
pump out coolant. Just make sure you don't let the pressure build too much.
Sadly, due to the way the thermostat works, you won't get all of your
coolant out this way as there is a pocket on the other side of the
thermostat. If you just pull the ends of any 3 random large hoses in the
engine bay, maybe with the front of the van raised a bit..... you'll get
most of it out. You can also try to use a garden hose sealed with your hand
to rinse out the system, though i sometimes worry then about the
concentration of coolant you mix, as you'll have pure water in the system.

My thoughts are if your coolant doesn't come out black, red, or brown,
you're probably "okay" just replacing "the bulk of it". Take a few hoses
off, once it stops dripping, fill it back up.
Your mileage may vary.

-Craig
'85GL turned WESTY
BOSTIG in the back


On Mon, Jan 18, 2010 at 12:24 AM, Stephen Cebula <sfcebula@yahoo.com> wrote:

> When I pulled the old engine out of my previous vanagon, it was easy
> getting the coolant out.  I just started ripping off hoses with some giant
> trash can lids underneath to catch the coolant.  Thanks to an accident it
> didn't last me long enough to do another coolant change.  Now that I have a
> new one, I want find the easiest (least messy) way to do it.  Any
> suggestions?  I know there's the shopvac method, the Bently method, and
> something about a bong made out of PVC and some hose (not sure about that).
> Any ideas will be appreciated.
>
> Thanks
> Steve
>
>
>
>