So we dropped the leaky radiator on my 1.9 and set the hoses to drooling
into a bucket. Only a few quarts (litres) came out. The cap was off the
expansion tank.

My son suggested starting the engine for a bit to pump out some more
coolant. I reckoned it couldn't hurt (watch: I bet I'm wrong) so I
started the engine.

Within a few moments the temp gauge started climbing. Obviously the
engine, which had been on for fewer than 15 seconds, was overheating.

So what was the gauge reading?

IN OTHER NEWS, I plan to run a couple loads of distilled water to flush
out more gunk before we connect the rad and put in coolant.

But if only a gallon or so comes out through passive droolage then that
ain't gonna work. So I tried a trick that Zoltan told me about: stuck my
air compressor nozzle into the top of the expansion tank, sealed the gap
with a shop rag, and blew some air in.

A lot more coolant came out, but not the nearly five gallons my owner's
manual says is in the system.

Other than disconnecting hoses from the friggin' water pump which I will
/not/ do willingly (the 1.9 doesn't make it easy to get to them), is
there something else I can do to get a more complete flush?

The van is parked with the nose slightly elevated. It could be pushed
off the ramps to lower the nose if that would help.

Suggestions from anyone other than David Bereil are welcome. He told me
to test the new radiator by jamming a screwdriver through the coils. I'm
not sure I can trust him any more.

--
Jack "Rocket j Squirrel" Elliott
Bend, Ore.
1984 Westfalia. A poor but proud people.
1971 "Ladybug"-brand utility trailer ca. 1972 from a defunct company in
San Clemente, Calif., now repurposed as The Westrailia.