See comments added below. Here is a test. Fill the pressure tank. With cap
off start engine. If coolant immediately blows and bubbles out you have a
head or gasket problem.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Woody Halsey
Sent: Thursday, December 24, 2009 4:56 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Woody's woes/ botched bleeding

Well, I finally found a moment when the sun was still somewhat in the
sky, the temperature was up and my bro-in-law was willing to keep his
foot on the accelerator. Here's what happened. Explanations and
suggestions will be more than welcome!

1)     Started the engine ( warm engine make bleeding almost impossible for
first try, Vapors) and drove up onto ramps, raising the nose
about 8". This really makes bleeding more difficult. Just not necessary.
2)     Opened front and back heaters.
3)     Opened bleeder valve on new radiator; took cap off expansion
tank.
4)     Filled expansion tank with water (it was pretty low). If you can't
get good flow and thorough mixing broken stuff here we come. Water and
coolant can move in slugs and not mix for a long time.
Never straight water in winter.
5)     Noted serious gurgling, burping and splashing from expansion
tank, but only  (not a good sign).
6)     Minor hissing from the radiator.
7)     Then some coolant escaped from the bleeder valve on the radiator
... then....
8)     NOTHING more from the radiator -- no air, no liquid -- while the
expansion tank continued to bubble like a witch's cauldron.

The heater under the back seat was blowing hot air; the front fan blew
only cold air. I added a total of about two quarts of water.

After about 15-20 minutes I gave up and invited my brother-in-law in for
a drink by the fire, saying I would not try again until I had received
the combined Wisdom from The List, hoping that maybe the air bubbles
will work their way towards the radiator overnight.

Some additional facts:

1)     Mechanic added fresh coolant with the engine raised, not the
nose; so clearly the system is in need of bleeding.
2)     Thermostat, sensors and radiator are all new.
3)     Gauge pegs as soon as the engine is turned on ... but then,
sometimes, goes back to normal readings. This afternoon it ended up
looking pretty normal after intitially pegging and flashing.
4)     Couldn't find the bleeder valve in the engine compartment. I
think it was eliminated years ago for some reason; maybe it broke and
the hoses were just spliced together.

Merry Christmas to all, and thanks in advance.

Woody
83.5 V'gon
Haverhill, MA

P.S. Now I am going to mix a cocktail, print out the tree ornament and
try to pry my kids away from the ginger bread  house project to help me.