Date:         Wed, 8 Dec 1999 19:13:25 -0500
Reply-To:     Steve Elfelt <steveelf@SPRYNET.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Steve Elfelt <steveelf@SPRYNET.COM>
Subject:      Bleed Radiator (What AM I doing wrong??)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Help!  I am trying to re-fill and bleed my cooling system.
I have the Bentley manual but can't figure out what
I am doing wrong.

Parked facing up a steep hill, blocked the wheels,
drained the coolant, installed a new radiator, heater
control valve, and a flush-T.  Flushed, drained, pretty
thoroughly.  Cracked the bleed screw on the rad, opened
the expansion tank, filled 'er up, hit the ignition.  Let it idle,
went back and poured coolant in expansion tank. I don't
have a tach so I have to guess to get 2000 rpm (maybe
that's what I am doing wrong?)  If I pull on the throttle,
coolant gets sucked up from the tank.  If I let go of the
throttle, coolant comes flash boiling back into the
tank (and out the top).  If I do not let go of the throttle and
add cool coolant, that also makes it boil up in the tank.  The
spillage turns to clouds of dramatic steam.  Sheesh!
You'd think I was in Yellowstone or something.  Whenever
it would start to gush out of the tank I'd slam the cap back
down and let it idle.  I had the heaters blasting hot air, and
I had coolant flowing briefly into the radiator, but never
filling it so it would come out the bleeder screw.  It would
be really handy to have a tach and some way to screw down the
throttle to stay steady at 2000 rpm.  Why won't coolant fill the
radiator and bleed out the screw?  How do I fill the expansion
tank if every time I take the cap off I get doused with hot
coolant?  I struggled until my temp guage started 3/4 the
way to the top and then just killed the engine and came in
to

                                        cry for HELP!!  HEEELLLPPPP!!!
thanks!

Steve E
84 Vanagon
Lansing Mich

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