>> Not sure why so many think you can bleed the water boxer any way you choose. ...<<

  Because you can-  I've seen it done, and participated in the perpetration. <G>

  I couldn't convince the "Joe's Garage" mechanic who replaced our
water pump in Cody, Wyoming that it was necessary to raise the front
of my bus to effect proper bleeding, so we did it his way, on the
flat.

  His instincts were correct, the job went well, and I went on my
merry way, bound for San Francisco.

  Being that this all happened 14 years ago, and I'm fricken' old, I
misremember whether we needed additional coolant over the course of
our trip, but I don't think so.

  I do remember, though, that "Joe" had more than a few choice words
concerning said replacement of water pump.

George & Jo/ATL