Yes, as Industrial designer and even more as just a German I am deeply
disturbed by the thought that something so imperfect could have gone into
production...

I'm thinking about replacing the purging screw on the radiator in front with
a Hose nipple and some kind of automatic purging scheme?

On Thu, Apr 22, 2010 at 12:03 AM, Tom Hargrave <thargrav@hiwaay.net> wrote:

> Tobias,
>
> Air in the cooling system will cause problems regardless of the vehicle and
> air blocking coolant flow, not lack of coolant is what causes most engines
> to overheat. The water pump can't overcome bubble in the upper radiator
> hose
> when you stop and your temperature spikes.
>
> But several European cars have what I consider a flaw in the cooling system
> - the "flaw" is that the designers route the upper radiator hose so high or
> mount the radiator so low that the system can't self purge. This "flaw"
> requires you to purge the system after any coolant service. For example,
> you
> WILL DESTROY THE ENGINE in some 3 series BMWs if you don't follow the
> correct bleeding procedure to purge the air bubble out of the upper
> radiator
> hose after performing a coolant service. I'm sure the if the vanagon has
> the
> same flaw then it has a similar purge procedure and someone else more
> knowledgeable than me of vanagon cooling systems can give you instructions.
>
> No reflection on your abilities but this is a good example of home
> mechanics
> or pro mechanics without the right experience doing more harm than good
> because they know just enough about what they are working on to get into
> trouble. The mechanic would change the coolant, not properly purge the
> system and then the mechanic or his customer would pay the consequences
> later.
>
> Tom
> www.kegkits.com
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf Of
> Tobias Gogolin
> Sent: Wednesday, April 21, 2010 11:56 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Water Cooler System Design Flaw Workaround?
>
> I suppose most of us are aware that if for whatever reason there is air in
> the cooling system of a Vanagon (T3?) it will overheat because the system
> gets 'air locked'. That means the coolant cant flow through the radiator
> because it would have to push air down in the return path an there is
> obviously not enough pressure to do that...
> I'm suspecting there could be some solution, one would be to put the
> radiator down where the spare tire is and eliminate the potential vapor
> lock, or... what else ?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Tobias
>
>

--
Tobias Gogolin
Tel. Movistar (646) 124 32 82
Tel. Telcel (646) 160 58 99
skype: moontogo
messenger: usertogo@hotmail.com

Blog: http://zeitgeistensenada.blogspot.com/

You develop Sustainable Ranch Technology at
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/SURA-TECH
an Open Source Electric Motor/Alternator at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Performance_Axial_Flux
and an Open Source Motor Controller at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GoBox