Doug,

The front end was raised - never said it wasn't.

As for the coolant flowing out at idle - well that I understand is normal  -
the problem was not having the RPMS up while bleeding - kinda hard to do
(not impossible) without a helper.

My front heat was awesome before the engine replacement so I know it can -
I'm just working the kinks out.

As for taking the trip without it - I didn't have a choice it's my only ride
:)

On Fri, Jan 29, 2010 at 10:42 PM, Doug Noganav <vanagon@astound.net> wrote:

> Not sure why so many think you can bleed the water boxer any way you
> choose.
>
> I do it the way Bentley book says (raise the van 15 3/4) at the cross bar
> behind the tire carrier and now use the great idea of the ABS pipe and site
> vinyl tube clamped to the bottle with the rubber adapter and absolutely
> love
> doing the purge and bleed procedure.
>
> Why would Bentley say to raise the van to this height unless they did the
> R&D?
>
> These "procedures" of doing this and that to bleed the system have no
> guarantee that you are getting all the air out and not leaving hot spots.
>
> Just saying "I've never had a problem"  "always worked for me"
>
> Has very little credibility, really, where is your R&D?
>
> Bleed and purge the way the manual says. if you still have air ......guess
> what....your heads are likely leaking air into the coolant. You can also
> have it sniffed for hydrocarbons and that will tell you for sure the gasses
> are being injected into the cooling system.
>
> The vanagon front heater works so awesomely well, its downright shameful to
> take it on a trip with it not working.
>
> Doug
>
>
>
>
> --
> Thanks,
>
> Jeff
> '90 Carat (Grover)
> '86 (We call this one Parts)
> '78 Bus (Melissa) Patty's Bus
>