G'day, Below is a copy of a message I posted on the VWvortex site. They all recomended that I should get my radiator bled. Does anyone now of a VW mechanic in the Newcastle environs who knows how to do this?
I am hoping someone can help me here. I am new to the watercooled world...having owned a '64 and '74 Beetle and a '71 squareback. We have recently purchased a '90 Caravelle C. This was a decision made on the right sized vehicle coming along..just as my kids are growing. I would have liked to get an air cooled Caravelle...but, well at least the engine 's in the back .

The other day my wife said that she could hear a bang..bang..banging coming from under the Van. I came to have a look and discovered all the coolant had poured out from underneath. Crawling under I discovered that one of the circlips around the right hand water pipe had come loose. I tightened this up and added more coolant but the engine still wanted to overheat when I took it for a quick spin. I took it the next day to a mechanics where they fitted a new Thermostat and re tightened all the circlips.

Today I took it for it's first big drive since all this happened ($216 later!). The van temperature guage began to rise dramatically but seemed to settle in the middle over the top of the little red light ( it wasn't on). Before all of this happened the gauge used to sit in the pretty cool range. Where should the temp indicator be

The other mystery is that when I arrived after an hours drive there was no coolant in the container in the back. So I filled it up to the max line...but by the time I got home ( after another hours drive) the coolant resevior was empty again Where is my coolant going? Does it stay in the radiator up front? Should my coolant container be empty after a long trip? There doesn't seem to be any leaks. I am hoping that it isn't all going into my engine...it seems to be driving OK so I don't think this is what's happening. Can anyone help?
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:beer

I am sure Ben Durie Automotive can help you here, give him a call on 4950-8248

Hi

As Dave said see Ben.

The factory recommends this method for bleeding,
Set heater to max
Remove radiator grille
Open bleeder on radiator approx 3 turns
Open bleeder valve on top of thermostat housing (near #3)
Fill header (refit cap) & expansion tank to brim
Start engine
Run engine at around 2000 rpm until issues from bleeder on radiator, then close screw
Fill expansion tank to brim and close bleed on thermostat
Switch off motor
Raise the vehicle 40cm at front
Restart engine
Run engine at around 2000 rpm
Open bleeds on radiator and thermostat again
Close bleeder on radiator when coolant issues
Add coolant to expansion tank if needed and close bleed on thermostat housing
===================

I have a WBX in my bug, but I have my header tank higher than my radiator so I have no trouble bleeding, I just fill mine up when its cold, I have drilled a tiny hole in the thermostat body which allows the system to fill evenly.

The reason that your coolant in the expansion tank kept disappearing was because there was air trapped in your system, as your motor runs and the coolant expands it will push excess coolant into the expansion tank as the motor cools it will suck coolant back into the system. If any air is in the system it will collect under the radiator cap (on header tank) and be expelled, coolant will then be drawn in to replace the air, and this will lower the level in the expansion tank.

1302Steve

Thanks for all the advice. I think I'll take it to Ben Durie. Sounds too tricky for me. At least I know now where all the water has been going. Cheers:cry

Please keep us informed because one of my mates has the same problem with his . I have bleed it right but still loosing water . It has me baffled. Thanks

I think you have the dreaded wasser baxer syndrome! It is leaking past cylinder gaskets and/or head gaskets.. Put a subaru in it

Hi

Also make sure that use factory coolant and distilled water, I have in mine since 1988 and it has had no coolant related problems. But I have replaced 3 water pumps.

1302Steve

Ive booked it in at Ben Durie's for Thursday week. I will report back with the verdict...Over the phone he reckons it is leaky pipes...I hope so rather than leaky heads etcetera.:P

I had a weird problem with my V6 where the coolant level in the expansion tank was going all over the place. Sometimes it would be overflowing, sometimes completely empty, then overflowing again, all without me adding any water and with the engine still hot and running.

I put a new radiator cap on and it fixed the problem. The old seal must have been a bit crusty after sitting dry for a while, and letting pressure (and water) out of the system.

I'll check out the cap and see. Cheers:beer

Sorry it has taken me sooo long to reply. Yes I tightened my radiator cap and the problem has stopped. Thanks for the advice!! Still had to spend heaps at Ben Durie's anyway. Merry Everything:tree
P.S also sold the Type 3 too.