Radiator problem (I think!)

[MrMagoo]

I see no coolant in my radiator even just after I have run the car up to normal temp. The coolant level in the expansion tank is at its maximum level. Any ideas? I recently had my car pressure tested to find my radiator was leaking. put some K-screw in and it has seemed to stop the leak. Temp gauge reads as normal. Should I top up the coolant directly into the radiator?

Many thanks.

[MrMagoo]

Can anyone help?!

[joebongo]

System needs "burping" - ie: airlocks or...perhaps the gunk has blocked it up somewhere?

Burping involves being on an incline, engine up, then releasing the air from a bleed screw (a bit like on a house radiator) to get the air out.

Google it for your car - I only know about E38 beamers.

Hope this is of some help.

[NiceCupOfTea]

What car is it?

I'm assuming if you have a separate rad cap then it is a non pressurised header tank and it siphons in/out of the pressurised side depending on pressure.

Have you checked the radiator cap?
Is the pipe from the header tank to the rad ok and not blocked?

[Eggman]

Does you radiator cap have a 'spring and plunger' type arrangement to seal it, or is it plain? If the former, could be that your header tank is just to catch coolant that gets vented from the radiator. See if there's a hose coming out of the bottom to fill up the cooling system - if there isn't, that confirms it.

Either way, the radiator should be full of coolant. Fill it up and give the radiator hoses a good squooshing to get the air out, if possible with the engine idling, then top up.