antifreeze

[Gixersimon]

Hi,
I have only had the car a few weeks and the AA report saidf it had no antifreeze. Having seena few of the posts on the website - correctly draning /bleedings systems to ensure no airlocks seems a bit dangerous for a compolet non mechanic for me to attempt. I purchased a couple of the bible and if i'm reading it right you simply leave the pressure cap on , undo the drain plg at the botrtom of the radiatore let it all flood out and then simpply replace all 12 litres (using 4-5 lites of antifreeze - is it this simple or am i unable to intpret an maunal ! To put this into perspectiuve i normally watch someone doing a job once before doing it myself and rather than bugger it up and wreck the endgine i would take it to a garage.
So simple or not simple ?

[spend]

Just syphon out through the swirl tank - you can remove about half the coolant this way. If you wish to drain the lot, you can complete by syphoning from the radiator expansion plug orifice.

I find this the simplest (and cleanest) way, plus I know how much to put back...

Dave

[Gixersimon]

thanks for the advice !, a couple of questions, how do you get the top of the swirl tank off - looks like a mammoth screw driver required !!, I did try using a the long bit of a spanner as a lever but I it didn't budge and I did not want to force it . Also when I put the antifreeze in do i put i straight back into the swirl pot ? or the expansion chamber ? (and just to confirm no bleeding or any such rigmarole required?)
Cheers
Simon

[trefor]

Gixersimon said:

thanks for the advice !, a couple of questions, how do you get the top of the swirl tank off - looks like a mammoth screw driver required !!, I did try using a the long bit of a spanner as a lever but I it didn't budge and I did not want to force it . Also when I put the antifreeze in do i put i straight back into the swirl pot ? or the expansion chamber ? (and just to confirm no bleeding or any such rigmarole required?) Cheers Simon

Loosen the big bolt very slightly (to take off the tightness only) when the engine is warm. Brass/ally expand at different rates and it will be easier when warm.

Fill up the swirl pot, only fill the expansion chamber to the height the car usually likes it at - any extra in there will only get spat out the cap under pressure. Do a search in the TVR forums for how to avoid air-locks when refilling the system.

Personally I would undo the bottom rad hose and empty the system properly and not play around syphoning stuff out. Makes a mess though even if you think you're going to catch all the juices.

[simpo two]

Time to get ye Bible methinks...