bleedin effing radiator

[southendpier]

OK so there is a bleed plug on the driver's side top of the rad, there is also one on the metal pipe at the front of the engine on the passenger side near to pulleys. Any others?

[Allandwf]

Nope.
Those three are it.
Worth checking the condition of the small rubber hoses at the back of the expansion bottle, at the "Y" piece where the connect to the head. Mine had internally collapsed so the bore was negligable. replaced them and it bleeds much better now.

[jonbarrett]

People complain about bleeding this syetm but I find it easy. I undo the three bleed points on the radiator and two water rails, fill through the expansion bottle, close the bleed points, run the engine up to temperature, let it cool down, top up the expansion bottle. Done.

[southendpier]

jonbarrett said:

People complain about bleeding this syetm but I find it easy. I undo the three bleed points on the radiator and two water rails, fill through the expansion bottle, close the bleed points, run the engine up to temperature, let it cool down, top up the expansion bottle. Done.

whoah tiger, I'm not complaining just looking for advice!

You've got 5 points. That's more than me! So, where are the other 2 on the rad? I guess I have one the water rail where is the other?

Cheers

[tvrgit]

There are three - one on the radiator, and one on each water rail (ie under each airbox) on the V8.

[southendpier]

oh OK, I misunderstood. There are 3 in total. On the rails are both bleed points covered by nuts?

[JensenA]

southendpier said:

oh OK, I misunderstood. There are 3 in total. On the rails are both bleed points covered by nuts?

Two cheap, nasty looking Wing Nut things.

[jonbarrett]

Sorry, my answer did sound confusing. Three bleed points in total. On the 4.5 the water rail bleed screws are hidden under the airboxes.

[GT4 Baz]

Should there be a nasty wing nut on each rail? Mine only has it on the drivers side rail so I can't undo the passenger side one.

Any suggestions on how I might be able to undo the passenger side rail? I get the fans to come on but then the expansion tank just pops the pressure out.

This all started when an old jubilee clip died last week, dropping coolant everywhere, before this the cooling system had been faultless.

Cheers for any advice!

[JensenA]

Buy a new Bleed screw In the meantime, park, or jack the car up, so the nose is up in the air. This makes the radiator the highest point of the car and you can bleed the system using the big nut on the radiator. If it needs water, top it up through that nut as well.

[GT4 Baz]

Thanks Jensen, all done now.

The "wing nut" can come off one side and put on the other but it just doesn't seem to key into the other bleed valve.

I followed your advice, popped the car up on railway sleepers and bleed it through the radiator as you suggested. All now seems well, took the car out for a spin and let is get up to 100 degrees on the water temp gauge without any issues, the fans kicked in and the expansion tank kept its cool.

Thanks again for the suggestions!

[JensenA]

Your welcome

[Mad Mark]

Those bleed screws on the water pipes.. How brittle are they? I have never undone mine for fear of them breaking! Both the 'wings' have broke free and just rattle on the valve!!
Where can they be bought from if need be?

[morebeanz]

They are rubbish, aren't they! I just used a spanner on the nut underneath, using the wings to just hand tighten while bleeding it.