refilling coolant

[Steve H]

Hi All

I have a leak from the bottom hose and will taking a look at it tomorrow. If all is ok I will be refilling with coolant but have a few questions.

I have checked the bible but I am a bit unsure.

1) What is the ration of water/anti freeze?

2) How much in litres does the car take?

) How do I refill, the bible gives 2 options but as my heater switch is stuck I cannot use one of the options and so I think I need option 1 but do not know what the "swan neck cap" is. Does anyone have a simpler version?

Cheers

Steve

[Stew Mc]

AF to water mix is normally 50/50.
Think the cooling system holds about 10 litres but I don't think you will need that much if you have not drained the hole lot.
I have just done my thermostat and one hose (needed about 5 litres in total) and had no real problems. Air tap on N/S top of radiator to kick off, then heater on hot (sounds like you might not be able to do this?)run the engine and keep an eye on the level and temp gauge and wait for fans to kick in.
re-check once cooled and you should be OK.
Stew.

[Steve H]

So I refill from the radiator? Is that right? What are the swirl and header tank used for
Thanks

[tvrgit]

No, you refill the swirl pot, and bleed air out of the radiator tap, top up swirl pot again. Then put a little water into the header tank - don't fill it.

Mine runs with the swirlp pot full to about an inch below the neck, if I put more in, it blows it out. My header tank is almost empty when the car is cold.

Warning though! They are TVRs and therefore all different!

[Elfit]

Fill from the swirl tank (the bible refers to it as swan neck tank).

Be sure to put the correct cap on!! (if you want a lengthy debate just ask on here .....)
General opinion is to put pressure cap on swirl.

Cheers

Tim

[Barkychoc]

Elfit said:

General opinion is to put pressure cap on swirl.

Oh no it isn't

[mep12345]

As I've said before pressure cap won't even fit on my swirl as it won't tighten down - I'm not getting in to the full explanation on pros and cons again

Mark

[Wiz]

tvrgit said:

No, you refill the swirl pot, and bleed air out of the radiator tap, top up swirl pot again. Then put a little water into the header tank - don't fill it.

Mine runs with the swirlp pot full to about an inch below the neck, if I put more in, it blows it out. My header tank is almost empty when the car is cold.

Warning though! They are TVRs and therefore all different!

Mine's the same.

[Gerald-TVR]

mep12345 said:

As I've said before pressure cap won't even fit on my swirl as it won't tighten down - I'm not getting in to the full explanation on pros and cons again

Mark

Na go on you know you want to!!!!

[Gerald-TVR]

Barkychoc said:

Elfit said:

General opinion is to put pressure cap on swirl.

Oh no it isn't

Oh yes it is!!!!!

[phillpot]

Steve H said:

Hi All


my heater switch is stuck

Cheers

Steve

If you disconnect the cable from it (under the bonnet) can you manually move it ? there's not a lot in there to stick, maybe the cable rusted and siezed ?

Think you'd be safe in the Artic circle with a 50/50 mix ! depending on brand used quarter anti freeze should be good for at least -15c , go a third if you really want to be sure ?

Guess half 'n half would give some le-way for topping up with just water

[Steve H]

Thanks to everyone for their advice, just needed a new clip on the bottom hose but I will put a new set of hoses on my list. 4ystem only needed topping up due to the way that the rad sits at a bit of an angle not a lot of water came out but the gauge is reading a bit hotter at present so I will take another look at the weekend
Steve