how do i top up the coolant and how much is a safe amount to use?? :dance:

straight into the top of the radiator (when it's cold of course ;) ) - fill it to a couple of inches below the top.

my system is full already, its just pure water tho so i need to add coolant... do i have to flush out the lot or can i top it through the expansion tank and obv the rest of the water will go through the overflow until the rad is at correct level... would that work??

 

if i have to drain whole system can you advise as i havent got a scooby doo! :D thanks

this thread should help. i wouldnt just pour in neat coolant as youd never know what ratio your ending up with. how long has the motor been running on pure water? :eek:

bout 1-2 days but not driving much.... it will have a little coolant in i was probably over exagerating a little..

 

thanks

Here you go >>

 

Just undo the main cap on the one end and the bleed screw on the other and pour coolant into the main opening. In order to ensure you don't end up with an airlock in the system It's suggest you raise the front of the car slightly (either by jacking it up at the front or parking it on a incline where the front of the car is higher than the rear of the car).

 

This orientation will allow air bubbles to go to the highest point (which will be the top of the radiator). With the rad cap and bleed screw off the radiator, start the engine and let it idle for a short while.

 

You will likely see some air bubbles appearing and then need to top up the coolant. After the majority of the bubbles have stopped (ie after a couple of minutes) put the main rad cap back on the radiator and continue to bleed the system through the bleed screw. Once you're satisfied no more air bubbles are coming up you can twist the screw back in and drop the front of the car. Job done. Check the level every couple of days for about a week just to make sure the level hasn't dropped.

 

By the way, you should also have around 600ml of coolant in the overflow. You'll find this in the right hand corner just behind the passenger side headlight. Look for a yellow screw top with a plastic dipstick attached to it. Check the level on the dipstick and if you need to top this up just pour it down the neck of the overflowtank. If you over fill it you will likely find a small puddle of coolant appear under the passenger side of the front of the car. This usually happens after a run. Nothing to worry about and it will stop when the levels are correct.

 

AND DO YOU KNOW WHEN IT WAS CHANGED PRIOR TO WHAT YOU DONE A FEW DAYS AGO ??

nope havent a clue when this was changed last,- ok so the car is outside now and jacked up higher at the front. i have undone the bleed screw and the rad cap.

 

do i start the engine and fill or not?

 

and do i fill so that the bleed screw is topped then replace bleed screw and continue to top up the rad sidde till thats full ?

 

thanks

Remove the bleed screw and radiator cap - ignition off. Top up coolant through the radiator cap hole until you can see water.

 

With the bleed screw and rad cap OFF turn the engine on and set the heating system to maximum temp (40C & A/C off). You can put the fan on max as well but this is less important.

 

Over the next 5 or so minutes the coolant level will drop and you'll also see air bubbles appear. Once the coolant starts to overflow from the rad cap hole you are safe to put the bleed screw and rad cap back on.

 

 

Oh and the reason i asked on the time limit is it's advised to only leave coolant in there for around 03 yrs anyway before a full change is needed

 

hth

 

Chris

cheers chris makes sense wil sort it now

No worries mate, post back if ya need anymore help

 

Chris

ok im done i left engine running for bout 6-7 mins while it got to the correct temp, all air bubbles had stopped so put bleed screw back in... then the rad after few mins started to overflow down the overflow pip. so i put the rad cap on... turned off engine... i take it thats done now yeh ? :)

Sounds good to me mate ;) just check the level in the rad every few days for a short while to make sure it's not loosing much

 

Chris

so when the car is stone cold should i see the water level on the rad where the main rad cap is, or will there be no water there as it should be further down the neck of the rad... when cold! :D

Yep wait until cool and check i give it around half an hr depends on how long it's driven for before hand i suppose, but obviously if you hear a hiss as you start to remove the cap do NOT proceed just give it a little longer

sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet! :D :D :D

 

 

 

cheers matey