Filling a pre cat with water

[Barreti]

OK, simple enough methinks. Only the noddy guide says to fill it through the top of the water pump where the swirl tank connects. Except on my pre cat I need the swirl tank connected to stop the bottom of the water pump leaking, and I have an early swirl tank with a long curved neck which means the gap between neck and pump is only wide enough to stick my finger in.
So you precat owners, how have you primed your cooling system?

Oh, thanks to those who contributed to the earlier post about which antifreeze. I ended up getting 6litres of VW G12+ which I'll mix 50/50 (the SPEND mix as I think its known)

Edited by Barreti on Thursday 26th February 14:23

[AntonyJ]

I have always just filled the swirl pot, (with heater on hot) and started the engine, let it warm a little and then crack the bleed tap in the top of the rad until no air, and just water escapes.
Done it this way a few times on mine and always been ok.

Don't have my handbook here at the moment, but isn't it mentioned in there?

[spend]

Stick the nose up in the air and fill the swirl pot. Keep squeezing the big hoses to release air & occasionally bleed the rad (can you get to it on the Griff? ). The throttle connector on top of the manifold is dead handy to release trapped air if you have raised the nose - the pipe squeezing always seems to push it into that area

I never put 50% in you rich burger! My wallet only ran to about 30% and since I didn't plan going to Finland... Best to just fill with water only first, to make sure you have no leaks, then syphon out the swirl pot to top up with the a/freeze IME.

[Barreti]

Yes it is in the handbook Antony. filling through the top of the water pump is the recommended method in there.
I think I'll see if I can get some water in through the top of the pump though because the pump will be dry now, but I certainly couldn't get 12litres in through there.

[350Matt]

I have to say I always just fill mine up via the header tank, start it up until the stat opens, then switch off, unscrew the cap, let it cool down and add more water up to 2 " below the cap.

Thats it, no need to squeeze pipes, raise the nose or anything else