I use that method all the time..
just top of the air space in the pressure bottle after every cool-down for a
few cycles..
it's plenty bled then.
Usually a couple of days, and 5 or 6  warm-up-cool-down cycles will do it,
not even that much sometimes.

Scott
www.turbovans.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael A. Radtke" <wa7zpu@CISAZ.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, September 19, 2010 2:29 PM
Subject: Re: coolent bleed valve on 84GL 4 speed

> Hello,
>
> I've been running without the bleed valve for years.  It broke long ago.
>
> As far as I can tell, it's purpose is to aid in getting the air out of
> the system when it is first filled.
>
> Over the years, I've seen lots of posts about tilting the vanagon this
> way or that when first filling and bleeding the cooling system.  I have
> never done that.  I just fill the system the best that I can, warm it up
> until the thermostat just opens and then let it cool.  I refill the
> expansion tank and do this cycle a couple more times until it doesn't
> use any more coolant.  A mechanic couldn't take the time to do this, but
> it's not much effort for someone not in a hurry.
>
> Thanks,
> Mike --- Phoenix, AZ --- 84'GL since new
>
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: Re: coolent bleed valve on 84GL 4 speed
> Date: Sat, 18 Sep 2010 20:07:24 -0700
> From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
> Reply-To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> References: <09238A1479844F94BD65FCFDFF7AB748@ownerc40f8cfcf>
>
> why don't you try it without a bleed valve there and tell us how it works
> out.
>
> I've been tempted to do that ...run without a bleed valve and hose there.
> but then I can see that they wanted a way to get  air out of a high spot
> in
> the main hoses, at least as part of the initial fill and  bleed process.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "william greenamyer" <wgreenamyer@CISO.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Saturday, September 18, 2010 7:10 PM
> Subject: coolent bleed valve on 84GL 4 speed
>
>
>> Haven't posted for a while.  Started working on the motor mounts and
>> missed
>> something when the engine dropped a little.  There is a bleed valve on
>> the
>> two big coolent hoses which go across the engine compartment.  There is a
>> little hose that goes from the bleed valve to the pipe towards the rear
>> of
>> the engine.  The nipple on the bleed has broken on me before and I
>> replaced
>> the whole assembly.  Further looking at this old assembly seemed to show
>> a
>> possible way to fix the nipple piece by inserting a small aluminum tube
>> into
>> the plastic part.  This would allow attaching to the valve assembly with
>> the
>> same hose as before and it would be stronger and more resistant to
>> vibration.  Just an idea.  My question is-- Is the bleed valve and
>> connection hose to the other main pipe really required for proper coolent
>> system operation?  I am guessing it is not and as long as you have
>> another
>> way to drain and fill the system, you can do without the bleed valve
>> (which
>> is prone to breakage due to fibration or stress).  For all of you
>> experts,
>> is this correct.  If so, I will just plug the hose and valve piece and
>> let
>> it go (never to break when driving again which lunched my first engine).
>>
>> William