Chrysler Repair: Air Bleeding of Coolant System: 2.2/2.5L 4 cyl., coolant recovery, coolant system

Question
Mr Finston;
 In bleeding the coolant system for air bubbles,does the engine need to be running or off? We have a 90' 2.5L with Turbo Caravan. I know the bleeding is done right above the thermastat housing. Also in doing so I also have the vehicle on ramps or jacked up in the front so that the air bubbles come to the top.Would you have a better way of bleeding the coolant system?

Answer
Hi Vick,
No the engine should not be running. I don't believe there is any value to elevating the front of the vehicle. It might be a little better to have it level, in fact. Here is how to do it:
Start the engine and put the heater control slider in the Heat position (this opens the water line to the heater). (A/C should be off of course)
Shut off the engine.
Open the radiator drain valve and watch to see that the water drains first from the coolant recovery bottle (tests for air tight system).
Then remove the radiator cap and let about another quart or so drain out. (You can collect the coolant in a pan for reuse if you choose).
Then remove the plug from the top of the thermostat housing and let the water drain out of that housing, use a flashlight to observe level (you don't have to drain any further if you are just trying to remove trapped air, otherwise complete draining).
Close the drain.
Start refilling thru the radiator cap opening.
When the coolant level rises into the thermostat housing and up to the top of the plug hole, stop filling and put in the plug (put some never-seize compound on the plug threads).
Continue filling thru the radiator cap opening until radiator is full.
Put on radiator cap.
Fill the coolant recovery bottle to the "max" line on the bottle.
In theory you will have now an air free cooling system. At least if there is any trapped air it will work its way out more quickly if you follow this procedure exactly. This may lower your operating temperature and also eliminate the intial rapid rise of the guage.
That is how the Chrysler manual says to do the de-aeration of the 4 cyl 2.2 and 2.5L engines.
Roland