I think they used the term (buznik), think thats the way its spelled ;)
can't say the translation here. hehe

Joe

-----Original Message-----
From: The corruptor <huotb@VIDEOTRON.CA>
Sent: May 13, 2004 9:04 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Draining the coolant system... ?

>>>>VW with their seemingly endless research and design team puts together a
factory service manual procedure for purging the extremely long and complex
cooling system of the vanagon. <<<<

Yea, this is the main problem, it is too complex!!! The radiator(S) should
be in the back (2 of them each side)with only one well design heating blower
in the back... they were drunk that day, they were also drunk the day they
design the cooling system... or should i say the wole engine. VW doesn't do
that much of research, Honda, Toyota does.

There is many ways to drain and bleed a vanagon, i did try quite a few, on
the 91 2.1L engine there is NO need at first to raise the van....unless
after a first good ride you do overheat, a slight overheat is normal for the
fist day, IT WILL SELF BLEED afterward. My last 3 bleeds on 2.1L, i didn't
raise the van at all, i simply drive this one for a wile over an overpass IF
NEEDED! after a few run i simply open the front rad and the rear
engine/thermostat bleeder screws, i continue driving for a wile, i bleed
again, normaly after 3 bleed, the sytem if free of all air pockets.

If you chose to raise the back it's fine also, in that case you can also
leave the Expension tank cap off until you see a lot of air bubble, at idle
it will NOT overheat, but remember, you need to rev the engine and not let
go at all, if you do so, coolant will splach out of the expension tank.

As you know, the 2.1L as a self bleeding system that works quite fine..
(ring around the rear hatch)

But to be more technical, the 2.1L water pump is kind of weak, so if you
raise the back without enough engine revolution, the coolant will have a
hard time getting in the front rad. Another VW stupidity found on other car
like the old Jetta, the use of a freaking expention tank!!!! put a damn
radiator cap on the radiator like any other car that don't need bleeding....

On those, you just leave that cap open for 15 minutes or until the
thermostat open...

we just change some hoses on a 84, i took many pictures, on this one i tried
to bleed the 1.9L without raising the van....without any sucess, we had to
raise the front and rear to bleed this one??? finaly, after 30 minutes of
trying a very big air pocket went through the front rad bleeding screw.

Anyway you decide, you need to get that air out IF THE ENGINE IS
OVERHEATING... If not, why the hell would you raise anything!

Cheers.
http://www.benplace.com/bleeding.htm
ps.: i will revise my section tonight with new trick that i found lately