It could be air, but I would pull the thermostat and drive it around a
bit. See if there is any change. If it runs colder, there is your
problem. If not, then checking elsewhere will be in order. But checking
the thermostat is the first order of business.

Before pulling the thermostat, you might want to point the van down hill
on a steep grade, remove the fill cap on the expansion tank and run it
per Bentley, after it is warm. If there is air, it will show in the tank.

Regards,

John Rodgers
88 GL driver

Warren Chapman wrote:

>I have aan '86 van (wasserboxer) that is running hotter than
>normal.....with the temp gauge rising more than halfway between the LED and
>the upper mark.
>
>The temp drops back to normal when I open the heater valves....and the temp
>needle goes back down to the top half of the LED.
>
>Is this an indicator of air in the cooling system.......or do I have a
>radiator problem.
>
>This van has been sitting for a long time....and I just got it running
>again.
>
>
>Warren C.
>
>
>