Radiator Bleeder

[Rick Iverson]

Gents;

I bought two (2) new radiators, and there are no provisions for bleeders. My options are, please?

[scorp997]

Material?

Brass/steel end tanks can have bleeders added easily (had this done on mine).
Aluminum end tanks can has a threaded boss welded on.
Plastic...... you may be on your own there

[Jerry Kehoe]

John is right, aluminum and steel/brass are easy . Plastic can be done with a very coarse thread into it and epoxy with a generous radius on it. Unless you have any of the old VW plastic/aluminum radiators you probably are in luck.

[billtebbutt]

Unless there is something "different" with your "mid-year" VD as you refer to it, why would you need bleeders? Had no need for them at all on the 90, 91, or 93 - the system as designed never seemed to trap any air no matter how fast I filled it. I just fill it, let it settle, run it for a minute or two with the cap off, top it up and move on.

cheers,
BT

[Nardi]

^^^ Thank you ^^^

[924RACR]

Plastic end tanks on radiators can be welded too - with a plastic welding kit (basically a hot air gun). Ideal is to use extra scrap cut-up end tank material (seems to be a sort of nylon-reinforced plastic) for compatibility... BTDT, ran those for a while before upgrading to a full custom aluminum rad from Keith (Averill)...

[JHerscher]

I removed the bleeders from my RF94 as potential leakers. As billtebutt says, never found any issue with filling the system, running the car, and letting it self bleed.

John

[tlracer]

Unless there is something "different" with your "mid-year" VD as you refer to it, why would you need bleeders? Had no need for them at all on the 90, 91, or 93 - the system as designed never seemed to trap any air no matter how fast I filled it. I just fill it, let it settle, run it for a minute or two with the cap off, top it up and move on.

cheers,
BT

Works on my RF86, too..though if 90's cars are "mid year" then mine must be "middle ages"!