Date:         Sun, 14 Feb 2016 20:45:34 -0500
Reply-To:     Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Cooling system questions
Comments: To: Rick Cooper <rickdcooper@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <CAG12ait4s6cPgf6U87+4_g8gb3JW72BD=NwBQVrij=KnJ=PLXA@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

You need to test for weather you have a gauge or cooling system issue. As for bleeding if you bled the system enough to get it working at all then it will finish getting the rest of the air out overtime with repeated heat-cool cycles as long as the system is tight and everything including the pressure cap is working properly. If you touched the gauge or temp 2 sensor wires make sure you have the correct connector on the correct sensor. The gauge and ECU temp 2 sensors are different and on some years the connectors are interchangeable. Some replacement sensors will be out of range so the gauge needle position will be off. Get some means of getting the actual coolant temperature in addition to the gauge reading. 

Dennis



-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Rick Cooper
Sent: Friday, February 12, 2016 7:13 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Cooling system questions

Two days ago I replaced the big coolant pipe that runs along the LH side of the engine (from pump to thermostat area) since it had rust bubbles happening.  Put on a nice shiny stainless steel one from Frank Condelli ( http://www.frankcondelli.com/staging1/store/index.php?route=product/product&path=61_93_95&product_id=367).
   At the same time I put in a new thermostat rated for 87 degrees C, though I'm not sure why -- guess I was tired of a lousy heater.

Yesterday I did a 100 mile journey and the temp gauge stayed around the 3/4 to 7/8 position, maybe a needle's width from the high end of the gauge.
This seems high, from what I've read here.  I'm wondering whether I've bled all the air out of the cooling system and it is running inefficiently.  I lost about a gallon of coolant in replacing the pipe and think I've replaced about that much.  I also topped up the reservoir a couple times after warming up the engine.  This morning (day after my journey), the reservoir was down a couple of inches so I've topped it up again.

But I've read here about raising the front of the vehicle and removing a bleeder cap on the rad.  Should I do that and add coolant there?

Thanks, Rick