Alternative bleed method?

[teenmal]

Its always best to keep the end of the bleed hose submerged in fluid,the same as bleeding brakes ets.

Yes. But slightly different here.
Bleeding brakes is pushing fluid through the system, not bleeding off it.
I think.

When you bleed brakes you push the air in the system out,and prevent air from entering the system.The same method is used when bleeding cooling system.
Hope this helps.

Mal..

[Trouble at t'Mill]

Fair point there by Spout; bleeding brakes is different, although similar! The reason you keep the brake bleeder submerged is to prevent air being pulled back up when you release the pedal.

I don't think there's any call for that when bleeding coolant air from the Bongo - isn't there always some +ve pressure at the bleeder, even though it varies according to engine speed?

That was my understanding, as I've never seen reference to keeping the pipe submerged in the tech notes, but please correct me if I'm wrong.

[haydn callow]

If you don't keep the bleed pipe FULL of coolant during the WHOLE process (either by having coolant constantly pouring out....submerging it in coolant or {as I do} by having a funnel attached and half full....you will get air drawn in.

[Rhod]

If you don't keep the bleed pipe FULL of coolant during the WHOLE process (either by having coolant constantly pouring out....submerging it in coolant or {as I do} by having a funnel attached and half full....you will get air drawn in.

Hadyn, are you saying that the bleed pipe should be submerged during the factory bleeding method as well?

[haydn callow]

I've never done it that way or really taken much notice of the method...But...if it's the one where you hang the pipe in a bucket..it makes sense to me that you would ensure the end of the bleed hose is always submerged. So if there is any "suckback it would suck coolant and not air.

[spout]

Hadyn, are you saying that the bleed pipe should be submerged during the factory bleeding method as well?

This would be difficult as the pipe needs to be in a raised position.
So to get the end submerged the pipe would have to loop over the bucket rim - causing an air trap. Hence using a funnel rather than a bucket stops this.

[haydn callow]

If you put some coolant in a bucket and then take the bung out of the bleed pipe and immerse it in the bucket whilst coolant was running out there is no way air could get in from that end of the operation.

[Rhod]

With the bleed hose hooked through the steering wheel & draining into a bucket I still needed to hang the bucket from the steering wheel to make sure that expelled coolant got safely into the bucket. To immerse the hose in a bucket of coolant I'd have needed to extend the hose by about 18 inches.

[mikeonb4c]

I'm losing the will to live

[dandywarhol]

Why do we need an alternative way when the original factory (and other) ways work
3 pages of waffle IMO...............only the proposed addition of a valve on the end of the bleedpipe makes sense - but even thats something else to go wrong..................

[Simon Jones]

Why do we need an alternative way when the original factory (and other) ways work
3 pages of waffle IMO...............only the proposed addition of a valve on the end of the bleedpipe makes sense - but even thats something else to go wrong..................

There's more than one way to crack a nut . I can't be the only one that finds the procedure in the manual difficult to understand. If it was sooo easy, then why are there so many posts on this forum by people who have problems doing it?

If this damn rain eases off, I might be able to get outside to fit the new radiator & then I can have a play.

[lizard]

Why do we need an alternative way when the original factory (and other) ways work
3 pages of waffle IMO...............only the proposed addition of a valve on the end of the bleedpipe makes sense - but even thats something else to go wrong..................

There's more than one way to crack a nut . I can't be the only one that finds the procedure in the manual difficult to understand. If it was sooo easy, then why are there so many posts on this forum by people who have problems doing it?

If this damn rain eases off, I might be able to get outside to fit the new radiator & then I can have a play.

Yes, it would be nice to have a procedure that only needs one person for a bleed.

[dandywarhol]

The factory method is a one person method lizard - granted it takes a wee bit of time to read/understand the procedure but it is pretty straightforward and foolproof IMO

[Trouble at t'Mill]

Hey, I love waffle...

Ok, fit an extension hose to t'bleed pipe (ideally made from rubber) and drape it out past passenger's door resting on t'hinge and plop it into the expansion tank well below fluid level and at furthest side to the tank's pipes. Fire her up, get her warm, have your assistant controlling the revs - you keep tank topped up to near top. Watch for bubbles (no, not the monkey) and fluid level. Once all settled and no more bubbles and temp all steady, refit bung and syphon off any excess coolant from tank using the self same pipe, but don't swallow.

Easy peasy lemon squee... If it works.

[Manny]

Trouble at t'Mill you beat me to it, I was thinking the same thing. If the extension pipe is clear the bubbles might be seen travelling along it and when the stat opens you would get a good indication. I might give it a try next time I bleed, see if it works.

Manny