[Vwdiesel] *more 81 Rabbit adventures*

[Rolf Pechukas]

well, I replaced the thermostat
did NOT do the trick
(could tell by the way bolts on the housing came off easily, and  
relatively new-looking t-stat I found in there that someone had been  
down this road b4)

following Loren's advice, I filled engine through upper radiator  
hose, then filled reservoir
observed coolant flow through the return
at idle, intermittent streaming
no visible bubbles in the coolant at all, but steady streams  
interrupted by air (is this what you meant by 'bubbles', Loren?)

air 'gaps' came less frequently as air made its way out of system
increasing throttle increased flow, purge - close to sustained  
'steady flow'

drove it locally for a little while, still getting way too high, up  
near the red

so, back to the drawing board

collapsed hose? checked lower rad hose, looked new, still has sticker  
on it (again someone down same rd)

head gasket?? how to tell for sure?

thanks
-- 

Rolf in MA