Airlock - Monaro

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Discussion

selym

Original Poster:

9,539 posts

170 months

Wednesday 23rd May 2018
quotequote all
After vxr2010's warning about airlocks I think I have managed to create an airlock. I had a Mishimoto rad fitted recently and fitted a water pump on Sunday. Added coolant, ran system with rad cap off/heater on full etc. Topped up about 3 times, the third time I put too much in and it went over the overflow pipe and nearly to the top (over the rim). I soaked some up but I think it was 'too late'! I only needed to top up by a half inch but got excited.

In any case, I monitor my temp using torque and it runs fine at early 90s on a run and creeps into the 100s in heavy traffic, always dropping off by fan or getting out of the traffic - all seems fine. Today, got home and heard a boiling sound, like air moving round the system - the overflow pipe is hot as though it's overflowing to the expansion. There is no visible leak anywhere.

Any top tips? Is this just the system working the air out?

mfp4073

1,940 posts

173 months

Wednesday 23rd May 2018
quotequote all
It sounds like you've done everything right. I would just do the same again, rad cap off, heater on full, and top up the coolant as the engine is running. I would check all the hoses for kinks, and any leaks. Make sure the heater valve isn't stuck, this is located on the drivers side under the two long coolant hoses coming out from the bulkhead.

John

selym

Original Poster:

9,539 posts

170 months

Wednesday 23rd May 2018
quotequote all
Ok so I ran it as you described, and the coolant started to rise out of the filler hole, the temp was 90 Deg (measured on Torque). The top hose is hot, the hose to the thermostat housing is not as hot and the heater valve moves when I change the temp on the control.

I've parked the car nose up my drive, going to let it cool a bit then try again. Just concerned why the coolant is rising out of the rad filler area - no bubbles.

selym

Original Poster:

9,539 posts

170 months

Wednesday 23rd May 2018
quotequote all
Ok, so I ran it up to heat on the hill....no bubbles and level rose. Cap on, drove it slowly, temp went up as expected, fans came on and temp went down - all exactly as the cycle expected. Gurgle/bubbling when I switch off
have gone though.

I'll monitor it. The car never overheats though and operates in the mid-90s during normal driving.

mfp4073

1,940 posts

173 months

Wednesday 23rd May 2018
quotequote all
When I last changed the coolant in my Monaro it did exactly as you described, coolant came back up through the filler neck and poured out everywhere! The cooling system will self bleed once it's gone from cold to hot a few times. Check it every morning when cold, and keep the heater on full, don't forget to take it easy on the gas pedal until it's sorted. If for some reason you are still having problems, note that the radiator caps are prone to failure, and there is a slight possibly of a faulty thermostat.

selym

Original Poster:

9,539 posts

170 months

Wednesday 23rd May 2018
quotequote all
Only slight wrinkle is that this is a Mishimoto rad cap. I'll check it tomorrow morning - I'm sure that me overfilling allowed some coolant (and air) down the bleed line which annoyed the car.

Thanks for the advice.

mfp4073

1,940 posts

173 months

Wednesday 23rd May 2018
quotequote all
Sorry, the faulty rad cap is for a stock one only. I think it's safe to say yours will be fine.

selym

Original Poster:

9,539 posts

170 months

Wednesday 23rd May 2018
quotequote all
mfp4073 said:
Sorry, the faulty rad cap is for a stock one only. I think it's safe to say yours will be fine.
I have 3 X the OE caps sat in boxes due to the old rad playing up! If only it was that!

In all seriousness, I think it should be ok now I've prayed to the God of overfilling, I'm hoping any air has bled out. No gurgling is a good sign.

THUNDER STORM

1,251 posts

168 months

Wednesday 23rd May 2018
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selym said:
mfp4073 said:
Sorry, the faulty rad cap is for a stock one only. I think it's safe to say yours will be fine.
I have 3 X the OE caps sat in boxes due to the old rad playing up! If only it was that!

In all seriousness, I think it should be ok now I've prayed to the God of overfilling, I'm hoping any air has bled out. No gurgling is a good sign.
If you have prayed to God, then it will get sorted, dont forget to thank God when all is running OK. Just a point when I put on my new rad as the engine was running from cold and rad top off just squeeze bottom rad hose which I find helps and then top up to level and replace rad top..

Adebyebye

selym

Original Poster:

9,539 posts

170 months

Wednesday 23rd May 2018
quotequote all
THUNDER STORM said:
If you have prayed to God, then it will get sorted, dont forget to thank God when all is running OK. Just a point when I put on my new rad as the engine was running from cold and rad top off just squeeze bottom rad hose which I find helps and then top up to level and replace rad top..

Adebyebye
Cheers Ade....I think my mistake was being overzealous with the top up! Airlock city!

vxr2010

2,554 posts

158 months

Wednesday 23rd May 2018
quotequote all
Hi it also seems to help squeezing the top and bottom rad hose repeatedly , it sounds like you did every thing correctly just repeat what you have done , i was also topping up the rad cap when it was cold before it was started as there is always a drop in the level , hope all goes well, subaru’s were known to gurgle but were fine and it was normal

selym

Original Poster:

9,539 posts

170 months

Thursday 24th May 2018
quotequote all
Still gurgling/bubbling when I arrived at work this morning. I'll check the coolant level when I get back to the car but I am not losing coolant, I think the airlock is still present. I was reading about allowing the air to bleed out of the bleed/steam line that runs from the rad (below the expansion tank line by the filler cap) to the head. from what I read the air can be bled out from there and reconnected when the coolant runs out of it; any clues?

vxr2010

2,554 posts

158 months

Friday 25th May 2018
quotequote all
Give it a go it makes sense , i also found topping it up when cold added a bit more coolant to it , i would have thought that the combination of driving plus what you have done would have sorted it , try it on a steep slope it may help

selym

Original Poster:

9,539 posts

170 months

Friday 25th May 2018
quotequote all
vxr2010 said:
Give it a go it makes sense , i also found topping it up when cold added a bit more coolant to it , i would have thought that the combination of driving plus what you have done would have sorted it , try it on a steep slope it may help
Cheers. I checked after two drives with engine temperature up to where it should be and there was no gurgle. I'll keep checking levels and listen for the sounds over the next few weeks. Better to be safe than sorry, even though the car runs nicely in the early 90s on a drive.

selym

Original Poster:

9,539 posts

170 months

Friday 25th May 2018
quotequote all
....gurgling again this morning - I checked the coolant before setting off and it hadn't moved since the last check yesterday morning and evening.

fred bloggs

1,300 posts

199 months

Friday 25th May 2018
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Mate it sounds like a cracked block to me, Id get rid. I take it of your hands for £2000 if you want.

vxr2010

2,554 posts

158 months

Friday 25th May 2018
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http://www.ls1gto.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1621...


this may help if the link works , one says it’s normal the other said rad cap can be at fault , rad caps are a common failure on the ls2 from memory

selym

Original Poster:

9,539 posts

170 months

Friday 25th May 2018
quotequote all
fred bloggs said:
Mate it sounds like a cracked block to me, Id get rid. I take it of your hands for £2000 if you want.
Fred, while I appreciate your offer I think I'll hold on to it!

selym

Original Poster:

9,539 posts

170 months

Friday 25th May 2018
quotequote all
vxr2010 said:
http://www.ls1gto.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1621...


this may help if the link works , one says it’s normal the other said rad cap can be at fault , rad caps are a common failure on the ls2 from memory
This is a Mishimoto rad cap. I got home and no bubbling at all. My parking spot is pointing uphill at work so I wonder if the rad being uppermost there is helping the air out of the expansion tank. My drive at home is flat as a pancake and I haven't heard the bubbling/gurgling there for a few days.
I reckon we are getting there!

mfp4073

1,940 posts

173 months

Friday 25th May 2018
quotequote all
selym said:
This is a Mishimoto rad cap. I got home and no bubbling at all. My parking spot is pointing uphill at work so I wonder if the rad being uppermost there is helping the air out of the expansion tank. My drive at home is flat as a pancake and I haven't heard the bubbling/gurgling there for a few days.
I reckon we are getting there!
Thank the Lord !!!!!!!!