100% drain coolant

[carob]

I have got some new coolant hoses on the way, what is the best way to 100% drain the system.

Cheers

Rob

[TVRleigh_BBWR]

All the car's I've seen have had a drain taps on the block,
This will remove most of the coolant, then just put a bucket under the rad, and remove the bottom hose.

[Campbell]

Take off the jubilee clips and pop off the hoses, start with the bottom radiator hose and there is to drain taps under the manafolds, this will drain off the heads.
I would try to flush the rad with clean water, try to capture the coolent coming off to see if there is any silt in it.
When refilling i would pre mix most of the antifreese ( remember to close the drain taps ) and open the heater to full when getting the air out of the system.
If you can try to hook up the watering hose to the heater matrix pipes at the back of the plenim to flush it out, not a lot of coolent comes out of there and was down the engine bay after wards to help spot leaks and the coolent doesnt evaporate.
Cambelt

[E Ponym]

when you are flushing the system send the flushing water in the reverse direction to normal and if possible run it until the water runs clear. To do this you need to take the top and bottom hose off the rad and pack the hose pipe into the hole with a bit of rag. Use the highest flow/pressure that doesn't spray water everywhere.

You could consider taking the thermostat out temporarily to flush the whole system and not just the radiator.

When refitting the thermostat always ensure that the little hole with the jiggle-pin in it is towards the top to stop a build-up of air and late opening of the stat.

Never use plain water to fill the system for more than a short-term test, you need the antifreeze as a corrosion inhibitor as well as stopping it freezing. Antifreeze also elevates the boiling point of the water a bit (but not as much as pressurising the system) with the standard 15psi sprung cap.

The fixed/sealed cap should go at the top of the swan-neck and the sprung pressure cap should go on the header tank - unless your system has been heavily modified from standard TVR.

If you live in a hard water area then consider boiling the water that you use to refill the system (after flushing and draining) and let the scale settle in the kettle before using the water.

Russ

[TVRleigh_BBWR]

E Ponym said:

If you live in a hard water area then consider boiling the water that you use to refill the system (after flushing and draining) and let the scale settle in the kettle before using the water.

Russ

Or I've been told to use rain water.

[Wedg1e]

TVRleigh_BBWR said:

E Ponym said:

If you live in a hard water area then consider boiling the water that you use to refill the system (after flushing and draining) and let the scale settle in the kettle before using the water.

Russ

Or I've been told to use rain water.

I'd have thought the condensate from a dehumidifier would be OK too.

[wooly350i]

Dont be fooled into thinking you can use artificially softened water from a water softener cos it aint good for aluminium,boiler manufacturers advise strongly against it with alluminium heat exchanger boilers.

[carob]

Thanks for the advice guys.

Cheers

Rob

[adam quantrill]

Wedg1e said:

TVRleigh_BBWR said:

E Ponym said:

If you live in a hard water area then consider boiling the water that you use to refill the system (after flushing and draining) and let the scale settle in the kettle before using the water.

Russ

Or I've been told to use rain water.

I'd have thought the condensate from a dehumidifier would be OK too.

Yes I use that - probably OK for battery top=up too. It's effectively distilled.

Alternatively use the water from the hot tap - a lot of the fur would have deposited in your hot water cylinder.

[carob]

Or give one of the lads a buzz were i used to work and get some Demin water, call made.

Rob

[Alexdaredevilz]

Disconnect attach one end to a hose, and you will be amazed how much crap comes out!!

I done it to my girlfriends mini and it took over a hour for the water to run clear!

Since we done that the cooling has been spot on

Alex