Bleeding the Vanagon cooling system is probably one of the most frightening
things I've ever done. Akin to heading down a double black diamond run
under icy conditions.

:)

-Mark

On Fri, Oct 12, 2018 at 10:44 AM kenneth wilford (Van-Again) <
kenwilfy@comcast.net> wrote:

> Don, here is what I do:
> Put the nose of the van up in the air either with ramps or jacks, or even a
> steep hill.
> Turn on the heater full on.
> Start the van and let it idle.
> Remove the upper grill.
> crack open the bleeder screw
> Go to the back of the van and remove the engine cover.
>
> Open the coolant pressure tank with the blue cap.
> Fill coolant here until this tank is completely full.
> Rev the engine up to about 2000 rpms and hold it there.
> Continue to fill the coolant tank until it is full to the top.
> Put the pressure cap back on.
> Let the van go back to idle.
> Check the heater to see if it is getting hot
> Check the radiator bleeder if a steady flow of coolant is coming out
> without bubbles.
>
> If not then:
> Rev the engine up to about 2000 rpms and hold it there.
> Remove pressure cap on tank
> fill the coolant tank until it is full to the top.
> Put the pressure cap back on.
> Let the van go back to idle.
> Check the heater to see if it is getting hot
> Check the radiator bleeder if a steady flow of coolant is coming out
> without bubbles.
>
> repeat procedure until you get hot heat and continuous stream of antifreeze
> with no bubbles coming out of bleeder.
> Let van idle until it gets to the middle and the radiator fan goes on and
> off a couple of times.
>
> You are now bled.
>
>
> On Fri, Oct 12, 2018 at 10:46 AM Don Hanson <dhanson928@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Yes, first thing I discovered when new to Vanagon... I put in fresh
> coolant
> > and the heater blew cold...but the temperature gauge didn't indicate
> > "hot".... I've since learned.
> > Never replaced the heater core. I think.its full of air now.  more work
> > today, if leaving the van overnight, nose-up at about 20• slope and open
> > for siphon didn't work.
> >
> > On Fri, Oct 12, 2018, 4:55 AM kenneth wilford (Van-Again) <
> > kenwilfy@comcast.net> wrote:
> >
> > > Don, usually no heat means either low coolant, or a bad heater core.
> Did
> > > you recently replace your core?  How are you bleeding the system?
> > >
> > > Ken
> > >
> > > On Thu, Oct 11, 2018 at 9:58 PM Don Hanson <dhanson928@gmail.com>
> wrote:
> > >
> > >> How does a Vanagon heater fail?  Mine doesn't leak, the dash lever
> moves
> > >> the valve just fine and hot coolant gets to the check valve, at least,
> > but
> > >> no heat.
> > >>    It worked fine, then I replaced the thermostat..No work then..So I
> > >> undid
> > >> my "repair"... but the heater didn't come back.
> > >>     I've driven the van both ways, bled it with every trick I've
> devised
> > >> through 3 motors and half a million miles...no heat.  Anybody? Thanks
> > >>
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > Thanks,
> > > Ken Wilford
> > > John 3:16
> > > www.vanagain.com
> > >
> >
>
>
> --
> Thanks,
> Ken Wilford
> John 3:16
> www.vanagain.com
>