Coolant replacement...

[chris1972]

Well, I went to a well known car maintenance outlet to get the coolant replaced and the system flushed as I had nowhere to drain the old coolant myself, plus have a new block paved driveway. The normal Indie I use was too busy.

I called up and they said "yes, it is ready for you, we're just waiting for it to cool down so they can check the coolant level." Drove it around for a good 30 mins this evening after collecting it and all seemed fine, temp remained pretty constant (dropped and increased as you would expect) etc. Waited for it to cool and then went to check the coolant myself... header tank still full of green gunge and the expansion tank has been filled to the brim with coolant.

I'll be back there first thing tomorrow morning... I would have thought replacing coolant would have been a simple task.

[TV8]

sounds like a change, not a flush!

[TJC46]

chris1972 said:

Well, I went to a well known car maintenance outlet to get the coolant replaced and the system flushed as I had nowhere to drain the old coolant myself, plus have a new block paved driveway. The normal Indie I use was too busy.

I called up and they said "yes, it is ready for you, we're just waiting for it to cool down so they can check the coolant level." Drove it around for a good 30 mins this evening after collecting it and all seemed fine, temp remained pretty constant (dropped and increased as you would expect) etc. Waited for it to cool and then went to check the coolant myself... header tank still full of green gunge and the expansion tank has been filled to the brim with coolant.

I'll be back there first thing tomorrow morning... I would have thought replacing coolant would have been a simple task.

Well first obvious point is, they have not flushed it very well.


As for the header tank being full to the brim, one explanation is that they dont know what the header tank level should be, or more than likley.............they have not bled all the air out.

Sometimes with a bad airlock as the temp increases, some of the coolant that they have managed to put in,can be forced out and into the header tank.
So now its cooled down, you look into the header tank, and hey presto its full.

[chris1972]

I have a sneaking suspicion that they have filled the expansion tank only... mistaking it for the header tank. the brightly coloured cap was too much of an attraction for them! The header tank is still blue with coolant and the header tank now a murky mustard colour (no doubt a combination of pink and blue coolant). There are splashes on the driver's side chassis, which indicates that they have obviously tried to drain the system.

Edited by chris1972 on Thursday 10th January 21:14

[TJC46]

Maybe a mix up here in which is which.Read them the following and tell them to send me a cheque in the post.

The expansion tank is the one with the blue pressure cap on it. The other is the swirl tank,or header tank,which usually has a brass screwed in cap on the top.The top hose goes from this into the thermostat housing.

Radiator, engine block, heater, swirl tank,and all associated hoses and pipework should be full of coolant, and filled via the swirl tank.
Expansion tank should only have 50mm ish of coolant in.
Engine should be run and bled of any air, and expansion tank level rechecked. Most seem happy with a level in the expansion of 25 to 50mm.

Edit to add, mines a serp engine.

Edited by TJC46 on Thursday 10th January 21:36

[Meths]

I can't even trust my local garage to change a light bulb.

The cover for the wheel well is now missing, and so is the cap that seals the light unit. I now have steamy, useless lights on my rover.

I now even take the rover to a specialist mg/rover garage (also happens to be a tvr garage )

[chris1972]

Yep exactly. Old blue coolant still in the header and a mixture of the two (was pink, now mustard) in the expansion tank.

[BillC99]

You will need to get all the coolant flushed out asap. The two types of antifreeze do not mix and when they get hot they can thicken up.
Also when mixed they lose all antifreeze properties!!!

[chris1972]

BillC99 said:

You will need to get all the coolant flushed out asap. The two types of antifreeze do not mix and when they get hot they can thicken up.
Also when mixed they lose all antifreeze properties!!!

I'm taking it back next week. It's unlikely I will use the car between now and then, due to the impending snow and bad weather, so it will have done no more than 15 miles on the new coolant by the time it goes back.

[JFReturns]

Anyone got tips for removing the brass nut from the swirl tank? Mines pretty firmly stuck, and I've bent a screwdriver trying to open it

[Exige S]

I used a flat pry bar. I've seen somone else use the edge of a spade for more leverage, but beware, the swirl pot is very soft aluminium, and it's not unheard of for it to twist and split before the brass plug comes out. In either case make sure you cover the edges of whatever you use, because if you slip you'll do a lot of damage to both yourself and your car!

Do yourself a favour and carefully (don't drop anything in there!) clean the threads on the brass plug and swirl pot, it makes it much easier to get out next time.

Hope that helps.

[over_the_hill]

JFReturns said:

Anyone got tips for removing the brass nut from the swirl tank? Mines pretty firmly stuck, and I've bent a screwdriver trying to open it

I have used a bolster chisel sideways on so the edge fits into the screw with an adjustable spanner across the edge of the chisel. Then you can turn/twist on both the chisel handle and adjustable spanner.

=-=-|||| D=-=-
........V.........

Something like above (hope it comes out)

Edited by over_the_hill on Friday 11th January 11:17

[over_the_hill]

BillC99 said:

You will need to get all the coolant flushed out asap. The two types of antifreeze do not mix and when they get hot they can thicken up.
Also when mixed they lose all antifreeze properties!!!

They might not be different types - just different colours. As long as they are both organic (most are these days) it is OK to mix them but you do get some crappy colours and this makes it harder to see if the coolant is getting gunked up.

[chris1972]

I have a flat pry-bar too. I place as much of the bar in the slot as possible to maximise surface area, reducing damage to the nut itself.

[jamienshelly]

I just use a 21 mm socket, also some spark plug sockets fit ( just don't go mad when doing it up )

[jamienshelly]

Hi Chris where in Kent are you?, as i am in eastbourne

[skiver]

Replace it with a hex head plug.

[jamienshelly]

skiver said:

Replace it with a hex head plug.

I thought they were all hex head, if not it makes my last post seem very stupid sorry.

[skiver]

jamienshelly said:

I thought they were all hex head, if not it makes my last post seem very stupid sorry.

That wasn't intended

[over_the_hill]

jamienshelly said:

I thought they were all hex head, if not it makes my last post seem very stupid sorry.

I think originally they were all slot head screw types but a lot of people (me included) have replaced them with the Steve Heath hex alan key version.