Check the old or put in a new -- and I prefer new -- thermostat. I have
have more than one or two thermostats over the years seize in the closed
position or nearly closed. This will definitely cause the engine to run
hotter. In all likelyhood, that will take care of the problem .....in
all likelyhood. But it may not. But it is the place to start. Then bleed
the system well to get rid of the air. My main mechanic prefers lifting
the back end rather than the front end to bleed the system. seems to
work, but there is a good bit of disagreement on that. For the sake of
convenience its good. Get on a really sttep grade. Run the engine with
the expansion tank cap off. After the engine is warm, run at the rpm
specified by bentley and watch for bubbles to escape. Fill tank until
the coolant level stabilizes. Replace the cap. Done. Hopefully there
will be no more bubbles, and it will run cooler.

Good luck,

John Rodgers
88 GL Driver

Andrew Fox wrote:
>
> Anyone know if any part of the cooling system on an 86 2.1 L Vanagon can
> be damaged by driving without the t-stat in?  My van is overheating a
> little and until i figure out why it is overheating and correct the problem
> i could use a little more cooling to get the gauge down from about 3/4 down
> to normal.  I'm already driving around blasting both heaters.  If its ok
> does the whole system need to be bled after removing the t-stat?  I'm
> living out of my van for the rest of the summer and don't have a spare car
> to drive until its fixed.
> Thanks,
> Andrew Fox