Despite my best efforts at making sure the system is sealed and bled, my
van continues to assert itself in the form of overheating. This usually
occurs during initial warm-up, but only when the van's under load like
driving on the freeway. The temp will climb to the high side, boiling
over occasionally, and then will settle down to just above the LED.

After that, it seems to more or less behave (although it runs hotter
than it should due to loss of pressure/coolant), so that's why I think I
have air in my system, rather than some more serious cause, like a
cracked head or blown head gasket. The motor is a replacement factory
unit with only about 25K on it, and the van runs flawlessly. The
overheating seems to only occur upon initial warm-up, prior to the
thermostat opening, so I think my air may be in that circuit.

Have replaced: Expansion cap, thermostat (80 degree), one coolant hose
that blew.

I have bled the system according to Bentley procedure (both heaters
open, nose elevated, bleeders cracked) but with no luck. However, I note
on page 19.16 that Bentley specifies raising the nose of the van 10cm
(4"). My driveway is sloped more than that, but I'm wondering if I have
been bleeding the system with insufficient slope? I have heard some
recommend that the nose should be elevated up to 24"

I am thinking of bleeding one more time with more elevation, and if that
doesn't work, I'll probably remove the thermostat to keep it from
boiling over. I'm getting to the point of paying to have the van looked
at, since I can't seem to solve this myself.

Any advice will, as usual, be appreciated.

Thanks,

Dan