WBX vs I4 engine; coolant capacities

[Vanagon Nut]

Hi folks.

Bentley shows only a 1.5 litre difference in cooling system capacity between the WBX and Diesel Vanagons.

Is it really only that small a difference? i.e. does the WBX engine only "hold" a little more than the diesel? Or is the difference at the rear heater one typically sees on a gas Vanagon?

On my '81 with ABA 2.0 inline 4 cylinder, I cut the long coolant pipes and disconnected a heater hose at their lowest points, and replaced the thermostat. I assumed all or nearly all the coolant would drain out in spite of having the right rear wheel up even a little higher than front of van. Maybe coolant remained in the radiator?
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1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA

1988 West DIY 50º ABA

VE7TBN

[82westyrabbit]

I will let you know how much coolant I put in sometime next week. It really should be the same as a diesel cooling system. The Wbx has a rear heater and 1 1/2 cooling lines. That should be right.

[Zeitgeist 13]

I honestly can't tell you an answer to the question, but I'm sure the differences are insignificant. I can say that bleeding the air out of my coolant system is the easiest of any water cooled van I've serviced--as in, it's no different than a typical front engine vehicle, except for the rad bleeder bolt.
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Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik?

[Vanagon Nut]

Thanks John and Casey. Ya, as I thought, the expansion tank was quite low yesterday morning (cold engine). Still haven't used all the coolant I set aside to refill the system but maybe the tank is low again today. Really thought I'd gotten all the coolant out by draining at the lowest point. Maybe not.

Neil.
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1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA

1988 West DIY 50º ABA

VE7TBN