Foreign object in expansion tank, serious?

[eltax91]

Chaps

I've just had some work carried out on my defender to finally put it back on the road. This morning, I had a peer into the coolant bottle and dipped my finger in. Liquid seemed very clear and not coloured like anti freeze!

So, out came the nice shiney new anti freeze strength test I got from lidl recently. I was just squeezing the 'pump' on top to get some liquid into the tester and the bd thing fell apart!

So, I now have the bulb in my hand and the remaining 6 inch 'dropper' tube left in the expansion bottle!

Is this going to be a problem running it? Have I really gotta strip the cooling system down and take the tank off to rescue the object?

Engine is a 200tdi if it matters

[EDLT]

Can't you just fish it out? I assume the pipe would float, the one of my (not Lidl brand) antifreeze tester does.

[ShayneJ]

Def ex tank is only held on by 3 10mm bolts take it off and shake it out
10 minute job!

[eltax91]

Spent 40 mins failing to fish it out. I know how easy it is to whip the tank off and rescue it, but its a ball ache draining and refilling, plus bleeding the system if a 3 quid piece of plastic won't affect the way it runs.

[s p a c e m a n]

As long as there is no way that it will make it to the pump or block the pipe I can see no problem, if it floats then I would leave it there until I was really really bored

[davepoth]

eltax91 said:

Spent 40 mins failing to fish it out. I know how easy it is to whip the tank off and rescue it, but its a ball ache draining and refilling, plus bleeding the system if a 3 quid piece of plastic won't affect the way it runs.

The expansion tank is at the top of the system, so you only need to drain it enough to get the level below the expansion tank.

[eltax91]

davepoth said:

The expansion tank is at the top of the system, so you only need to drain it enough to get the level below the expansion tank.

Ok, so, whip the bottom pipe off, drop the contents of the tank into a container, remove tank, extract problem and the refit and just refill? No bleeding required?

[jagracer]

You wont need to bleed it, just top up anything that's lost which shouldn't be much and run it with the cap off for a few minutes. I doubt it'll do any harm if you leave it in there as It's not going to fit through any pipes to the rad.

[s p a c e m a n]

If you want to be double sure just clamp the pipe to seal it before you take the tank off, not really any need though.

[eltax91]

Cheers chaps. Top advice. Will do it when I'm bored.

[jagracer]

Just a thought, it may be advisable to take it out in case the little balls have fallen out.