question what is a better mix in the overflow tank, just water or water/coolent. kinda weird
since it has a water pipe in the cap..

Thanks,
Joe

-----Original Message-----
>From: "Bostig Eng." <syncrolist@BOSTIG.COM>
>Sent: May 17, 2006 10:10 AM
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Re: Need info on bleeding - Air problems with Subaru
>
>Is it bubbling while you're running it cold(say at idle, from cold start, 
>is new air being introduced to the system)?  No worries about not having 
>the proper coolant mix yet, water cools better than water/coolant mix 
>anyhow...
>
>Jim
>
>At 11:53 AM 5/17/2006, Josh, Courtney & Althea Wilson wrote:
>>Hello all,
>>
>>Does anyone have some general information they can point me towards or send
>>me regarding the issue of air in the cooling system of a Subaru conv. and
>>the process of bleeding the air?  I�ve had my Subaru Vanagon for less than a
>>year, and though I�ve heard that Subaru people sometimes have problems with
>>air in the system, I never experienced it -- until recently. I�ve been
>>travelling through Mexico, and some 2500 km ago the cap on the expansion
>>tank seemed to stop working and the engine started overheating. The mechanic
>>emptied the system, refilled it, and replaced the cap. About 1000 km later,
>>the overheating started again. The next mechanic said the first must not
>>have bled the air out very well. He put more water in, bled it on an incline
>>with the rear higher than the front. All seemed well, and then some 1500 km
>>later, same problem. So I filled and bled it myself this time, car is
>>running well for now, but I fear something is being done wrong. I�ve got a
>>hose attachment on the bleed screw, but how far should I open it? After the
>>bubbles, when the engine is hot, I get what looks like foamy fluid for a
>>while, but if I keep bleeding it, I lose a lot of fluid and the overheating
>>starts again. I haven�t put the proper coolant balance in yet -- could that
>>be the problem? It seems that air is the problem, and when she overheats,
>>there�s definitely air in the radiator, but maybe that�s not the primary
>>problem...? Why are you supposed to elevate the front of the car to bleed?
>>The fluid doesn�t seem to start circulating through the radiator again until
>>I elevate the rear end. Yeah, I�m a little confused with it all.
>>
>>Anyway...any help is much appreciated.
>>
>>Thanks,
>>Joshua
>>89 Subaru Vanagon
>>