Radiator Drain Chim 500

[Andy JB]

Can anyone advise (as a newbie) how straightforward a coolant change is. My recently purchased Chim 500 97 has recently been serviced but the coolant requires a change, and as yet i don't have the manual for teh work myself or time to get it done via dealer.

If the job is straightforward a procedure summary would be most welcome and type of coolant to be used.

Thanks for any tips/info

[lig]

Hi Andy.

From memory.....
Easiest way is to disconnect the bottom hose on the rad (standing at front looking at the car - left hand side).

Then disconnect top hose coming from alloy swirl pot (with brass screw ontop).

Then if you like...flush system with hose clean water both ways.

Then put top hose back on and remove brass screw

Put bottom hose on rad back on (it may be worth buying some new jubilee clips)

Then remove blue filler cap and fill with water antifreeze mix until it is about 12 full (this should fill the radiator aswell) then replace the cap TIGHT!

I used about a 40% concentrate so put one pint anti to 1 14 pints water until it is half full - wont really matter if it is 50% conc.

Then top up the swirl pot (brass screw) until full

Then at the top of the rad (up from where you disconnected the hose) you will find a bolt head (bolt screwed into the rad) unscrew this slightly until you hear air escape and see bubbles appearing on top of the swirl pot....keep topping up the swirl pot until water runs out the bolt hole in the rad.

Then tighten up the rad bolt and top up the swirl pot and replace the brass screw...job done.!

Check tighten all jube clips and run engine. If it hasnt been changed for a while, the new antifreeze will find any weak spots!!!

Use any antifreeze, the one that has the longest protection the better i.e 2 or 3 years.

I hope I haven't missed anything...

Regards,
Lig.

[chim666]

I would just add that it is common (in my experience) to have to repeat the bleed procedure over a few days (loosen the 'bolt' thing on the top of the rad) a couple of times to remove stubborn air locks (make sure the engine is cool before removing the blue expansion tank cap!).Also, when you remove the bottom hose, the coolant will gush EVERYWHERE! you'll need a decent sized catch-tank.

[Andy JB]

Thanks for this - i'll try it over the weekend. Not sure about the 1 pint of anti & 14 pints water to give a 40% strength ! assume this was a typo ?

[lig]

sorry fella,

twas supposed to read one and a quarter missed the slash - try again 1 14!

[lig]

nope

for some reason it doesnt like back slashes!!

Lig.