coolant problem

[stevo1980]

Hi iv got an 84 panel van, was a 1.9 petrol been converted to 1600 diesel. No problems until a hose got corroded underneath and leaked. Changed this no problem but found that it was impossible to bleed the system up. Jacked it up at the front etc 2and a half thousand revs etc. Anyway in the end i used a pressure pump to get the water round. Drove to lands end and drove round cornwall for a week and then back no problem but the temp gauge was past the light in the middle no light came on, water level fine. Last week took it to Manchester air cooled to make sure it was all ok. Thay had a massive problem bleeding it. It appeared the bottom hose went to the top of the rad. Whilst bleeding from top of rad it sucked rather than blew so they changed it round this seemed to be worse but it blew. Changed it back. Took the rad out to see if it was blocked that was ok. Took the water pump out, that was ok, thermostat, ok. Managed to get the rad hot in the end but this took all day to bleed up and we had to suck the water up on the top of the rad. Everything seems fine drove it for quite a few miles on motorway and on long drives out during this week but the temp gauge still sits past the light with the left side of the needle dead in line with the right side of the red bulb.
We are so confused as to why it take so long to bleed and im not sure if air is still there.
I dont have a vw bottle its of a vauxhall i think and i dont have an expansion tank either. This problem has only started when i emptied the cooland and changed the hose.
Please if anyone can help and give me some advice and if anyone got any plans of coolant pipe layout. My engine i have been told is a 1600d JK from a caddy not sure if this is the same as the 1600d that was installed in the factory for transporters.
Also been told the expansion tank is a waste of time.
Thanks a lot Steve.

[Oldiebut goodie]

'the temp gauge still sits past the light with the left side of the needle dead in line with the right side of the red bulb.'

That's where mine(1.6d) sits now since an engine change - previously it was on top of the red. (1.6d changed to a 1.6d with a jx block))
I would have thought it advisable that you had the correct number of bottles though!
You haven't got the water pump rotating the wrong way have you (as it is hybrid conversion)?

[Aidan]

expansion tank is an absolute necessity as is the pressure cap on top of it, the cap retains pressure at 1bar, ie 2 bar really as we are all at 1 bar anyway, this enable the coolant to get above 100 degrees without boiling and creating steam, if the cap isn't holding pressure the system will boil and steam will read hotter than coolant under pressure;
the top up tank isn't essential but it's designed so that if the pressure cap relieves a bit into the top up tank it can replenish the system when it cools down and creates a vacuum, also if there is a small leak but system basically holds pressure it will keep itself topped up, and means that you don't have to open potentially dangerous pressure cap to top up or check level, you merely monitor the level in the cold, non pressurised top up tank readily accesible behind the flap next to the oil dipstick which you are regularly checking anyway
I take it that during all this bleeding you have had the heater fully open so that there are no air locks in there ? If the heater doesn't get hot then the valve has failed
VW system works so I'd refit that and see where you are, also where does your level sender wire connect to in this hybrid system ? or has that been bypassed/disabled

[stevo1980]

The thing is the needle sat bang on in the middle before this leak and never had a problem. I have had the van for 2 years with no prob only went funny when the hose needed replacing. I have no coolant level sensor as it has been bypassed. At the min my heaters are blowing cold when at traffic lights so to speak but my garage told me he would sort that, thats not a problem. How do i check if the water pump is turning the other way. I do know mine has been out and checked just wondered if he would have checked for that. Gonna get the proper bottles see what happens. Are GSF ones any good and what is the difference between an early and late bottle as i have seen one on ebay for an 83 model ??. Thanks for the help guys. Steve