Date:         Sat, 10 Apr 2010 11:46:36 -0400
Reply-To:     David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Subject:      Re: Can I drain coolant from someplace more accessible?
Comments: To: Scott Chapman <scott_list@MISCHKO.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <4BC0963F.4090002@mischko.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

At 11:16 AM 4/10/2010, Scott Chapman wrote:
>Replacing radiator.
>Bentley says to drain coolant at head drain point.  I'd rather not
>remove the shield beneath the head.
>
>Is there a place I can drain coolant besides this that will suffice?

Dear Scott,

My personal choice would be to lift the front, clamp off the hoses to
the front heater and then drain from the upper radiator hose,
lowering it to just below the lower hose.  Then secure the two hoses
higher up so they won't continue to siphon.  I *think* that if you
did  this you'd be able to prefill the radiator either through the
bleed screw *or* by leaving the upper hose off and filling through
that until it overflows the radiator; then installing the hose and
finishing through the bleed screw -- can't remember if there's access
to do the latter.  I'm not even totally certain there is an upper
hose, but I believe there is, on the right side I think looking forward.

Yours,
David