Bleeding the radiator with a Subaru 2.5....?

[Grahamlandguru]

Hey all. Looking for advice or confirmation on this.

I've got an 87 Syncro with 2.5 Subaru motor.

My rear heater core was leaking, so I replaced it and got the upgraded switch. Clamped the hoses, and filled up the new heater core with antifreeze so to minimize air bubbles in the system. Went thru the normal procedure to 'burp'' the cooling system of air bubbles. We did the front of the vehicle up high on an incline, we got a little air out of the rear heater release valve. And a little air out of the front radiator as well. With the revs at 2500. We topped off fluids in the overflow. Drove it for 15 min. And redid this process again.

I never did get any fluid to come out of the radiator in the front.

Do I need to get the moter temp higher?

We used 50/50 premixed fluids. My obd2 said motor temp was 80 deg.

Any thoughts? I've driven for 30 min on the highway now and no temp problems, but a I also live in the mtns of Colorado and it's cold out....

Thanks
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67 $75 so44? camper project
87 syncro adventurewagen
13 taco

[Howesight]

Use gravity. When bleeding the radiator, the rear of the vehicle must be higher than the front. This allows you to add the 50/50 anti-freeze and distilled water mix to the expansion tank and for the mixture to flow down towards the "burp" valve on the radiator.

I have never understood why so many Vanagon owners think gravity does not apply to Vanagons.
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'86 Syncro Westy SVX

[Wildthings]

If you aren't getting fluid to come out then the threads must be clogged. Remove the bleeder and see if there is tape on the threads or something.

[Sodo]

Park it on a hill such that the reservoir in the engine bay is higher than the bleeder screw on the radiator.

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'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb

[wesitarz]

[AZ Landshaper]

Bubbles rise. you want them to rise into the expansion tank.
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85 Weekender w/ EJ22
Previously
64, 71, 72, 73, 76, 81, 84, 85 & 87 Campmobiles and Westfalias
and a 67 bug.

[Grahamlandguru]

Sounds good everyone. And makes sense. I'll give that a shot today after work. I just got a little confused with the 3? Different methods I've read up on. I figured the rising temps and the higher rpms would force the fluids up and out of the radiator, with the way I tried it. We'll try rear in up and let gravity get the bubbles out that way. Thanks agin.!
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67 $75 so44? camper project
87 syncro adventurewagen
13 taco

[dobryan]

If you have a spare front radiator hose you can do this to get the rear level above the radiator bleed bolt. I use distilled water to top off to avoid spilling coolant, or you could place a bucket underneath when you remove the hose.

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Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2002 Subaru EJ25 and Peloquin TBD

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[caseyl]

I find this is the hardest part of the subaru swap. It takes me a few tires to bleed it correctly after I remove the engine for service.

I point the van up a hill, down a hill, let it heat up, cool down, etc.

Additional bleed ports located at high spots on the coolant pipes help.

I got much better at it after I built a "libby bong".

My 2.2 probably has a cracked head so that doesn't help much...