Date:         Wed, 12 May 1999 11:05:02 -0700
Reply-To:     vince_pappalardo@OM.CV.HP.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Vince P." <vince_pappalardo@OM.CV.HP.COM>
Subject:      Flushing Tee and Filling cooling system procedure.
Comments: To: vanagon@vanagon.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; name="cc:Mail"

     Two months ago I posted a method to flush the cooling system using a
     flushing Tee.  After flushing the system, I removed the tee and
     replace the hose I spliced.  I have also now filled the system using
     the following procedure:

     1) Raise front of vehicle as much as possible.
     2) Remove front grill and loosen almost completely the bleeder screw
     on radiator
     3) Loosen bleeder screw in engine compartment located on large
     radiator hose plastic coupling.  Be careful, these can break easily
     and are expensive to replace.
     4) Fill cooling system with straight antifreeze until 2 gallons and 2
     cups (8 liters) of antifreeze have been used.  Then use a premixed
     50/50 mix of antifreeze and water.
     5) Run engine at 3000 RPM and fill cooling system until full and no
     more bubbles come from radiator bleed screw.  With engine still
     running at 3000 RPM, close bleeder screw on radiator.
     6) With engine still at 3000 RPM, top off reservoir in engine
     compartment and replace cap.
     7) Turn off engine for 5 minutes.  Then repeat steps 3 and 6.  Close
     engine compartment bleeder screw.
     8) Fill expansion tank to max with 50/50 mix of coolant and reattach
     hose from expansion tank to reservoir tank.
     9)  Drive car as normal.  Check expansion tank and top off as needed
     at the beginning and end of every trip you make especially after trips
     over an hour long.  If the blinking light on the temperature gage ever
     blinks for more than 10 seconds, stop the car and top off the
     reservoir tank.  Run the engine at 3000 and top the reservoir tank
     again and replace the cap.
     10) The system is bleed when the level in the expansion tank
     stabilizes.  This should happen in less than 10 trips where the engine
     gets up to normal operation temperatures.

     Regards,

     Vince.
     '85 Westy, GL
     '99 Nissan Quest (Oh my god we own a non-VW Minivan)