Chimaera cooling pressure test

[l10tus]

I'm trying to source an adapter to fit the male thread on my 1994 blue capped expansion bottle neck.
I have a proprietary pump up pressure testing kit, but can't seem to find a suitable single adaptor for the VAG blue capped aluminium expansion vessel.

Anybody any ideas or can give me a link to buy one please?

[phillpot]

Swirl pot plug is 1/2" BSP, make up an adaptor to fit in there or the Otter switch, M22 x 1.5

[Belle427]

You can buy rubber bungs for turbo system pressure testing etc that may help providing you can get the connection to work for you.

[l10tus]

Gents, thanks for the replies, but I was hoping that, being as the blue cap is VAG item, there would be an appropriate adaptor already available???
Can anyone suggest where one might be available, from?

[l10tus]

I checked my cheap Chinese cooling pressure tester kit and guess what - they included a sage green adaptor suitable for our swirl pot neck.

Tested the system to 15 psi, found a number of small leaks cured by just repositioning and tightening the jubilee clips - all good !

Perhaps the cooler running engine will stop eating my MAF's (4 no. In the last 4 years!)

Maybe the end of shunting forever??? (Love a man with imagination!)

Cheers,
Phil

[Belle427]

If you have not read it yet the god damn shunt is killing me thread its worth a read.
Switching to a full vacuum source for the distributor vacuum advance can lower under bonnet temps slightly in my experience.
Does your car still have the pre cats in place as removing these can lower temperatures too.

[l10tus]

Belle, sorry for the delay in replying - yes I believe all my cats are still intact.
I have a Craig Davies electric fan fitted to the car aswell!!!?
Just done a run up to the lake district to watch Bluebird (disappointing!) the car travells at about 75° at motorway speeds, with very little temperature variation, untill stuck in traffic - where the gauge was rising to around 92° - however, it didn't seem to ever go above before settling back to the lower reading.
I checked water level in the swirl pot and although brimmed when filling, always settles about 2" below the return water spout inside ( where does the overfill go to ????)
Steady enough now methinks?
Art.

[BritishTvr450]

That’s quite normal on most of the cars. As the temp rises to full operating temps the coolant expands slightly and often forces a small amount of liquid out into the expansion tank rather than over pressurise the system which can cause leaks or even blow hoses off.
It’s important to keep expansion tank 1/3 full when fully cold so there is space to take extra coolant when it expands but importantly enough water to draw some back into the system when it cools down again.
Because the temp gauge is not particularly accurate as long as your fans cut in and out everything should be working correctly.
What you’re looking to see or hear is in traffic the fans might run continuously but as soon as you get moving and air flow increases through the rad the fans should cut off. If your fans run continuously then that’s when you should worry.
Saying that on very hot days you can expect the fans to work harder and for longer.

[Belle427]

I would say it sounds about right, mine used to run a bit lower like yours on a cool crisp day but always sat around 90 on a warmer day.
My only concern with those lower temps is if it is creeping back into warm up enrichment but im not sure on the managements strategy for this.

[l10tus]

Thanks gents, it seems to maintain the same water level after several run cycles, so seems ok now.