Air getting into the cooling system is usually the internal gaskets
failing, not the rubber outer gaskets. Inner gaskets usually fail due to
an over heating event or for some reason the head studs lost the ability
to hold the clamping load, (came loose). After that, the small leakage
erodes the seal at the top of the cylinders and combustion gases begin
to fill the cooling system. If caught really early enough, re-tourqing
the heads may fix it.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of Jonathan Farrugia
Sent: Saturday, April 01, 2006 8:43 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Air Getting into Cooling system

John

often people have trouble keeping the system bleed when the head gaskets
are failing.  try pressurizing the system with air and leave it sit
overnight then look for coolant the next day.

jonathan

On Sat, 1 Apr 2006, John Connolly, Aircooled.Net wrote:

> Sister In Law's 85 Vanagon is getting air buildup in the radiator
after 2-4
> days of errands. We have bled it, and know we are getting all the air
out.
>
> The question I have is where is the air getting IN FROM? Any usual
suspects?
>
> We did recently replace the rear heater core.
>
> TIA
>
> John
>
>
>