Any easy way to determine if you have a head gasket leak is to start
the engine dead cold and shut it off after about 30 seconds. Remove
the coolant cap. If you hear pressure release, you've got a bad head
gasket since the engine did not run long enough to build up pressure
from heat. No point in doing anything else if you have a bad head
gasket.

Jim

On Thu, Dec 10, 2009 at 4:24 PM, dylan <insyncro@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Bleed per Bentley manual at 2000rpm with front raised and all heater open and on full�for at least a few minutes to rule out air being trapped.
> If it still builds pressure, you have an internal head gasket failure, very common.
> A leak down test will confirm that.
>
> best of luck.
>
> dylan
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: matthew <Mattmoosh2000@COMCAST.NET>
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Sent: Thu, December 10, 2009 3:25:36 PM
> Subject: overheating vanagon 86
>
> I bleed the air out of the system, I think I just got it all out, but there
> is not much pressure when I open the radiator bleeder.
>
> It was bubbleing slightly, but also constanly until I drove it a bit. I only
> bled them for 40 seconds after I drove.
>
>
>
> When it gets air the expansion tank builds a lot of pressure. The stream
> pumping in seems like it could be more constant. but if the bubbles are
> coming out of the radiator bleeder it could be the radiator? I am a novice,
> and a pump seems like it could pump air to the radiator. Does it sound like
> it could leak air in? it doesn't seem to be doing it right after I drove,
> but the expansion tank was at the min until I unscrewed the cap, then it
> quickly filled.
>
> P.S. I don't know where all the bubbles could be, or what the bleeder near
> the thermostat does.
>
>