Coolant refill

[Sidewinder76]

Hi all.

Recently my fan destroyed itself taking the top hose, fan shroud and brand new radiator with it leaving a nice reminder bulge in the bonnet so does anyone have any tips for refilling with coolant please.
I have heard of raising the front end, filling the top hose first and also running to operating temp then allowing to cool and adding more until no further coolant is required to be added.
Thanks in advance.

[Keithy P38]

1. Fill it up to cold level.

2. Take the small overflow hose off the radiator. Blow through it to ensure no blockages.

3. Have your coolant/water at the ready and start the engine with overflow tank cap off. The level will drop so you'll need to be ready to top it up as necessary until the radiator is full.

4. Use your hand to high-idle the motor (about 2000rpm is enough).

5. Once the radiator is full there will be a constant flow out of the overflow port on the radiator, you can then put the hose back on and nip it up.

6. Once the thermostat opens you will find the coolant level may start to come up as the temp increases, if it gets too high simply turn the motor off. You can begin to fluctuate the revs between idle and 2500rpm now to "blast" the air out of the head pockets.

7. Once the level either gets too high, or the level stops dropping (usually only 5mins into this procedure), let the engine cool for 30mins to an hour and then top it up again and repeat the steps from step 3 on. Normally ill do it three or four times to make sure I've bled all the air.

I normally park on flat ground, not necessarily nose up or anything...

Hope this helps!

Cheers
Keithy

[TheTree]

HI

Having done this a few times now, don't :censored: ask why, the procedure in RAVE works perfectly, I initially jacked up the front drivers side, but the last time i didn't even bother to do that :p

Steve

[Sidewinder76]

Thanks guys!

[Sidewinder76]

Hi all.
So after successfully refilling the coolant and going for a short run or two I heard what sounded like a strange amount of pressure in the cooling system l waited for the noise to stop and I checked the other levels only to discover.......... milky engine oil. Oh no!
Back to the mechanic it goes on the back of a truck. I'm thinking head gaskets but we will see.

[Keithy P38]

Ouch! Was it pressurising before you did the coolant change?

[Sidewinder76]

It wasn't, at least I hadn't noticed it was anyway. It had only done about 20k from the workshop.

[Keithy P38]

That's no good mate!

[Sidewinder76]

It's so frustrating mate. Just spent $3k on it trying to sort out the heating issue and it comes out and is supposedly fixed. Drive up the road and the fan detonates. Luckily I was only 500yds from home so it didn't get hot at all. Replaced everything and then find water in the oil. So frustrating!

[TheTree]

Mate

I feel your pain, I hope it turns out OK for you !

Steve

[Sidewinder76]

Hopefully it's nothing terminal. If it is I might have to put a big 6.2 in there. Lol.

[TheTree]

Hi

I hear the 5 litre Rover V8's do rooster tails from all 4 wheels in sand :p

Steve

[Sidewinder76]

They do now do they?

Dear Santa, I have been a good boy this year so I'd like a 5.0 please. I am not greedy though so a car that runs for more than a week without an issue. Thanks.

Well I went in to see the mechanic this morning and they were testing the heads this afternoon. He informed me that if there were no problems with the heads then it is only head gaskets and he would get back to me this afternoon if there were any problems. Well no news is good news as they say and I haven't heard anything so I can hope that it is only the gaskets after all. I asked him to check the manifold gaskets and other seals whilst he is in there as I don't want to find a leak in a week.

Now it is Friday so I will have to wait until Monday......

[Keithy P38]

Here's hoping its just gaskets! Fingers crossed for you mate!

[Pete38]

Yeh that's a rough ride. Feel for you. Isn't it bad things than come in three's? Well that's 3 things then.

[Sidewinder76]

Thanks fellas!

[mtb_gary]

They do now do they?

Dear Santa, I have been a good boy this year so I'd like a 5.0 please. I am not greedy though so a car that runs for more than a week without an issue. Thanks.

Well I went in to see the mechanic this morning and they were testing the heads this afternoon. He informed me that if there were no problems with the heads then it is only head gaskets and he would get back to me this afternoon if there were any problems. Well no news is good news as they say and I haven't heard anything so I can hope that it is only the gaskets after all. I asked him to check the manifold gaskets and other seals whilst he is in there as I don't want to find a leak in a week.

Now it is Friday so I will have to wait until Monday......

Fingers crossed for you that it is only a gasket, the the 5.0 does sound an interesting option ;).

Gary

[Sidewinder76]

It would make a difference to have a 5.0. Maybe I should get mine bored out while its apart.
Or maybe not.

[benji]

5 litres will spin the wheels on bitumen is what I've heard.

Best of luck, I can sympathise with you on frustrating engine problems.

[Keithy P38]

If 5 litres makes all the difference, imagine highrr's gen III P38! There's no substitute for cubes if you want horses, but it's the legs in the horses that make them run!

Strokers are the way to go!