Aluminium bottle at front of engine bay?
Discussion
quote:
Could be a good place to keep your tea warm?
Don't get me started.
I have several recipies including one from Mr Peter Beech:
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/Peter_Beech/TVR/misc.htm#Cat%20Fish
With a few small personalisations (is that a word?) to the recipe it was FINE!
Suet pudding or beef wellington...
Don't keep your tea in the expansion tank though - it'll taste of Glycol...
If it is empty, usually an indication that the rest of the system may be empty or the pressure cap is faulty. Either way this is not normal. You run the risk of overheating. Check the system levels and top up as per the handbook or the bible.
Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk
Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk
quote:
If it is empty, usually an indication that the rest of the system may be empty or the pressure cap is faulty. Either way this is not normal. You run the risk of overheating. Check the system levels and top up as per the handbook or the bible.
OK, so if the system has been topped up (via the swirl tank as well as the header tank) and the header tank is still empty after a run and the engine has cooled - what then? I have this problem and I'm not quite sure what I should be looking for. Maybe just get a new pressure cap first and keep fingers crossed?
P.S. Forgot to mention that the engine isn't overheating at all. Is this just good luck on my part?!
>> Edited by SGirl on Sunday 4th August 17:23
I think u might be losing water from somewhere.
Try leaving it running with the bonnet up until it gets up to temp and fans cut in.After filling it up to see if u can find a leak anywhere.
I dont think u have a pressure cap problem as that is what the swirl tank is for,any extra water.
Mine is usually about half full and if i fill it up any more than that it normally finds a weak spot to leak from.
Also if u need to put a lot of coolant in u will have to bleed the system as shown in the 'bible'
SImon
Try leaving it running with the bonnet up until it gets up to temp and fans cut in.After filling it up to see if u can find a leak anywhere.
I dont think u have a pressure cap problem as that is what the swirl tank is for,any extra water.
Mine is usually about half full and if i fill it up any more than that it normally finds a weak spot to leak from.
Also if u need to put a lot of coolant in u will have to bleed the system as shown in the 'bible'
SImon
are you saying the header tank is empty?
it shouldn't be empty..1/2 to 3/4 full
if it is then i would suspect a leak in the system as it sounds like you are short of water, if there is no water in the system the temp gauge wont read properly and prolonged use is likeky to damage lots of things including the heads.
if you think the systems empty too, then refill and drain the radiator of air,
check to see that you have a good flow of water coming from the engine when you look into the top of the expansion tank, if you havent then the pump hasn't got any water and you need to re-bleed the system.(do this with the heater controls on hot)
try that it might help http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/Peter_Beech/TVR/COOLGEN.HTM
heliox
>> Edited by heliox on Sunday 4th August 19:20
it shouldn't be empty..1/2 to 3/4 full
if it is then i would suspect a leak in the system as it sounds like you are short of water, if there is no water in the system the temp gauge wont read properly and prolonged use is likeky to damage lots of things including the heads.
if you think the systems empty too, then refill and drain the radiator of air,
check to see that you have a good flow of water coming from the engine when you look into the top of the expansion tank, if you havent then the pump hasn't got any water and you need to re-bleed the system.(do this with the heater controls on hot)
try that it might help http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/Peter_Beech/TVR/COOLGEN.HTM
heliox
>> Edited by heliox on Sunday 4th August 19:20
quote:
are you saying the header tank is empty?
Yep!
quote:
if it is then i would suspect a leak in the system as it sounds like you are short of water, if there is no water in the system the temp gauge wont read properly and prolonged use is likeky to damage lots of things including the heads.
The header tank is empty after a run. At this point, though, the swirl tank has water in it, down to about an inch and a half or so beneath the threads. The level doesn't seem to drop below that at all.
I think a leak somewhere is the most likely option, but where? There was a drip from one corner of the rad once I half-filled the expansion tank earlier, but this might be due to my lousy aim with the water
or the rain we had earlier in the day. Where could the system be leaking from to cause this? And what will a new rad cost to buy and fit?
Cheers!
quote:
Where could the system be leaking from to cause this? And what will a new rad cost to buy and fit?
any hose joint,radiator, gasket seals including head gasket
you should be able to see the leak if you have one
(except for the head gasket where that normally shows up in exhaust emision or fluid/oil contamination) and try and trace it to the nearest likely area
i had an uprated core fitted to mine last year and it cost £200 so a new one would be a bit more im sure but check again to see that the systems toped-up before you start checking, just in case
heliox
quote:
any hose joint,radiator, gasket seals including head gasket
you should be able to see the leak if you have one
(except for the head gasket where that normally shows up in exhaust emision or fluid/oil contamination) and try and trace it to the nearest likely area
i had an uprated core fitted to mine last year and it cost £200 so a new one would be a bit more im sure but check again to see that the systems toped-up before you start checking, just in case
Cheers Heliox,
I've had a look round the seals and stuff and there's nothing obviously dripping apart from the radiator. I;ve been watching like a hawk for signs of head gasket failure, but I haven't seen any. Fortunately!
Looks like that corner of the rad is the prime suspect, then. I'll stick some newspaper under it tonight and see if the paper's turned blue by morning!
I think the most common place for the radiators to leak is in the corners so might be worth looking here.
Also if the radiator is leaking you should have water in the front spoiler looking through the grill under the number plate,this bit also has a Hole either end for water to escape but there might be some left so also worth looking here,probably need a torch or u can put ur hand down ther and should be able to feel any water.
Simon
Also if the radiator is leaking you should have water in the front spoiler looking through the grill under the number plate,this bit also has a Hole either end for water to escape but there might be some left so also worth looking here,probably need a torch or u can put ur hand down ther and should be able to feel any water.
Simon
'I think the most common place for the radiators to leak is in the corners so might be worth looking here. Also if the radiator is leaking you should have water in the front spoiler looking through the grill under the number plate'
100% accurate and exactly what happened to me. I'm told that TVR are making new Griff rads due to demand but I had a recore, around £200 fitted - and it's not an easy job.
You shouldn't normally need to open the swirlpot - topping up is via the expansion tank (ally bottle at front). And if it's leaking, best fix it now before it goes phut big time.
100% accurate and exactly what happened to me. I'm told that TVR are making new Griff rads due to demand but I had a recore, around £200 fitted - and it's not an easy job.
You shouldn't normally need to open the swirlpot - topping up is via the expansion tank (ally bottle at front). And if it's leaking, best fix it now before it goes phut big time.
Could it be an air-lock in the system somewhere working it's way out? You say you have taken the brass cap off the swirl tank? Was it full to the top? Also I think there is a tap in the top corner of the radiator for bleeding it, have you tried opening this to see if air or water comes out? Rich...
quote:
Could it be an air-lock in the system somewhere working it's way out? You say you have taken the brass cap off the swirl tank? Was it full to the top? Also I think there is a tap in the top corner of the radiator for bleeding it, have you tried opening this to see if air or water comes out? Rich...
Mine has a plug top off side of radiator which should be loosened to allow air to be bled from system. The coolannt finds its own level, which should be just above the weld in the canister. Only top-up with 50/50 distilled water and universal antifreeze...NOT tap water.
Good luck!
quote:
Could it be an air-lock in the system somewhere working it's way out? You say you have taken the brass cap off the swirl tank? Was it full to the top? Also I think there is a tap in the top corner of the radiator for bleeding it, have you tried opening this to see if air or water comes out? Rich...
The swirl tank wasn't quite full, no. The coolant was about an inch or so from the top of it. Filled it and topped up the header tank, ran the car... and the coolant was still about an inch from the top of the swirl tank.
I'll bleed the rad next and see what happens. Nothing on the paper under the rad this morning when I went to look. Hmmm...
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