Very nice explanation Jim.... lots of work, thanks for all the trouble...
Just one thing... he has an 84... so drop step #6

-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Arnott <jrasite@EONI.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Date: Friday, January 15, 1999 1:32 AM
Subject: Bleeding Cooling system per Bentley

>John,
>
>Here's how it's done. (per Bentley pgs. 19.16-19.17)
>
>1.  raise front end about 40 cm (15 3/4 in.)
>2.  set heater control to max heat
>3.  open control valve for rear heater
>4.  remove grill
>5.  open bleeder screw on passenger side top of radiator
>6.  open bleeder valve at front of engine compartment (on black plastic
>fitting with 4 large radiator hoses connecting to it.)
>7.  fill coolant until expansion tank the one on the left, NOT the overflow
>tank on the right.) is full (approx. 4-5 liter (4.25-5.3 US qt.))
>8.  start engine
>9.  at approx. 2000 rpm fill expansion tank until coolant flows from
bleeder
>screw in radiator bubble free (it takes two people!)
>10. add coolant until expansion tank is full and close tank with cap
>11. turn ignition off and start engine again after about 20 seconds
>12. raise engine speed to approx. 2000 rpm and open cap of expansion tank
>13. close bleeder screw on radiator when coolant flows out (need that
friend again!)
>14. add coolant if necessary and close tank
>15. close bleeder screw in engine compartment
>16. turn engine off
>17. top up overflow tank
>18. reinstall grill
>19. lower front end
>20. drive for a couple days and keep an eye on the coolant level. (my
>suggestion, not VW's)
>
>Miscellaneous notes:  A set of ramps helps get the front end up, but
they're
>not really tall enough.  15.75 inches is WAAAY up there. You've got to have
>that friend.  You're going to put about a gallon of coolant on the ground.
I
>premix the coolant 50-50 before I start because VAG is very specific about
the
>ratio.  I've heard it said that tap water is better than distilled due to
>coolant being formulated to work with the chemistry of the water.  I use
the
>orange long life stuff.  Others prefer the genuine Autobahn stuff.  Still
>others just use plain old ethylene glycol coolant.  Truth be told, I don't
>think it really makes that much difference and I have yet to see any
>quantitive data on one vs. the other. (An aside; my '83.5 was dealer
>maintained for the first ten years and 125k miles of its life. Came with
ALL
>recipts. When I bought it (second owner) it had GREEN coolant.)
>
>Jim Arnott
>WetWesties
>Union, OR
>