Date: Thu, 28 May 1998 03:25:40 EDT
Reply-To: Modl6971@AOL.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: Michael Modl <Modl6971@AOL.COM>
Subject: Re: Mystery Bentley coolant drain instructions
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
In a message dated 98-05-27 21:37:46 EDT, printstud@CSI.COM writes:
<< After researching many long hours on the vanagon archives about how
to flush the cooling system, I came across several helpful members
descriptions on how to do it.
But there were still several questions so I decided to break down & buy
the Bentley Manual. (BTW, both the old folks home and the bus depot were
out of stock and I needed it right away so I called JC Whitney who had
it in stock and could ship it out that day for $70!)
So far I'm not very happy with Bentleys description of how to flush (or
drain, which is all that is mentioned) the coolant out of the Vanagon.
Perhaps the author presumed that I already knew how to do it?? In which
case why would you need the manual??) It is very confusing and has left
out a lot of steps! And it doesn't make sense! >>
Here is the simple version to flushing the coolant. Remove the right sheild
on the right cylinder head to access the drain plug. Drain the coolant. It's
not needed to do the same on the left cylinder head drain because only about
half a quart of coolant will come out on the left side when the cooling system
is drained. Remove the spare tire. Remove the lower radiator hose and drain
the rest of the coolant. Reinstall the hose. Put right cylinder head sheild
and drain plug back on. Add VW phosphate free coolant already premixed with
50% water and 50% coolant to the coolant reseviour in the left side of the
engine compartment. Jack the front end of the car up about 12 inches. Remove
the headlight grill. Start car. Open up the bleeder screw on top of the
radiator, don't remove the bleeder screw. It's on the top right while looking
at the radiator. Make sure the car was in neutrul and the E-brake is on. Open
up the bleeder screw on the thermostat housing on the front left part of the
engine compartment. Coolant doesn't come out of this bleeder screw. It
internally bleeds. Hold engine RPM at around 3500 to 4000 RPM. Add coolant ALL
the way full while holding high RPM. You'll notice the higher the RPM, the
more coolant you can add. Put the coolant resevior cap on. Now let go of the
throttle, let the car idle. Doen't worry about that hose that goes on the cap
just yet. Go up front to the bleeder screw and see if any air is coming out.
When a small steady stream of coolant comes out with no air bubbles, close the
bleeder screw. Go back to the coolant resevior, raise RPM way up again to
around 4000 RPM. Unscrew cap. Add as much coolant as full as you can, raise
RPM even higher to get as much as you can in. Put resevior cap back on and
now let go of the throttle, let the car idle. Go back up front to the bleeder
screw, open up a little bit to get any remaining air out. Close when
comfirmed. Put that hose on the coolant resevior. Let the car idle till hot
and the fan has cycled once. One more quick check of the front bleeder screw.
Close the rear bleeder screw. Turn the car off to reset the flashing coolant
light. Put the other things back together. You'll have used allmost two
gallons of PREMIXED coolant. Do with a cold engine. The adding coolant and
going back and forth, should take about 5 minutes, before waiting to reach
operating temp. Do not remove the coolant resevoir cap with a hot engine.
Fill the coolant catch behing the lisence plate. The whole job is a little
messy. GOOD LUCK. Let me know how it works out.
Michael M. 87 syncro.
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