A clarification on that..
about 2.1's being better about bleeding ..

the 2.1 'engine' portion' of the cooling system is very completely
self-bleeding.
you'll notice that coolant line around the top of the engine compartment .
what I call it the  'bleed rail' ..
hoses from the engine and other parts rise up to that pipe ..
from the top of the t-stat cover ( when the valve there is open ) ,
from the top of the coolant distribution tower ..
and ...near the power steering pump ...a small hose off the cylinder head
there...
these hoses all automatically route any air in the engine to the 'bleed
rail' around the top of the engine compartment.....full time...the engine
will always have coolant in it, unless it's not filled, or exhaust gases are
getting from combustion chambers into coolant.

the bleed rail is connected to the upper connection to the coolant pressure
bottle.
So any air gets back to the top of the pressure bottle, in that air space at
the top.
 Completely 'engine self-bleeding' there ........very nice.  Idiot proof
even.
  I build a similar full time engine air bleed into my Subaru engine
conversions as well.

The rest of the cooling system ..to the front and the radiator  though ..
not really self-bleeding. Should be bled to the radiator in the conventional
manner.

Scott
www.turbovans.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jeff Lincoln" <magikvw@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, April 08, 2011 9:19 PM
Subject: Re: To bleed or not to bleed

> Bill,
>
> It is my understanding (from this list) that the 2.1 engine is mostly self
> bleeding when it comes to the cooling system. So I would say you are
> probably OK - just keeo a close eye on coolant level.
>
> That being said it doesn't mean that folks out there don't bleed the
> coolant
> ayatem on a 2.1 - but like I said my understanding is the 2.1 system is
> designed to kind of take care of itself.
>
> --
> Thanks,
>
> Jeff
> '85 GL (Gertie)
> '90 Carat (Grover - the noble parts donor)
> '78 Bus (Melissa) Patty's Bus