Overheated, low coolant, advice.

[Peg leg Pete]

Agreed

[missfixit70]

Aww I feel all warm & cuddly

[francophile1947]

Aww I feel all warm & cuddly

But do Warm and Cuddly mind?

[missfixit70]

It's what they live for

[Peg leg Pete]

[francophile1947]

It's what they live for

[dandywarhol]

Yes Steve it is the see-saw method that I use, I do run the cap off, not good at explaining things in writing so had better amend factsheet I hope this thread is not going to turn in to another epic, as long as the method you choose to use works, thats what counts

It might be an epic Pete, but at least it's a friendly one

I'm back - F*#k off!

[missfixit70]

We know you're just a big softie really

[bigdaddycain]

We can communicate people!

This is what's needed. a cumulative knowledge of individuals coming together to achieve a more complete understanding of the bongo's idiosyncrasies with regards to bleeding of the coolant system!

To add to my very limited knowledge, perhaps somebody could explain?

Haydn pointed out that using the "see-saw" method, all of the air is expelled immediately, i must admit, i always thought that was impossible,many thanks to haydn for correcting me on that.

However, pegleg pete has informed me in the past that he uses the see-saw method too, and i think it was at the the tough northerners meet last year we discussed this very subject in some detail, (correct me if i'm wrong here pete, my memory is dodgy at the best of times), yet I'm almost certain that pete said that the coolant needs topping up in the header tank the following day...post bleed as it were.

Could somebody shed some light on this discrepancy please? Think on, many are reading this, in the hopes of gaining a full understanding, i think we need to be absolutely clear on all the in's and out's.

[haydn callow]

Perhaps Pete when he has finished bleeding leaves the coolant level up to the full line....So...the next morning it is 1 cm (approx) below and it needs topping up........This is only because the coolant has contracted on cooling and not related to air expelling overnight.
When I've finished I leave the level 1 cm above the full line.

[dandywarhol]

Again, I'm quoting from the book cos I'm too lazy to work out other ways to do it The manual details to fill the reservoir to the flange - about a couple of cms above "FULL" - presumably to allow for settling down when the system cools.

Using the manual's method of bleeding with the bleedpipe higher than the engine should ensure that all the air is expelled at the first attempt once the thermostat is fully open and the coolant is circulating.

I once tried dropping the pipe down to engine level whilst bleeding it - BIG MISTAKE! the system gulped in air and I had to do it all over again - by the bible.

I might be totally wrong here but it is my opinion that raising and lowering the bleed tube in the "see saw" method is a dodgy practice as it COULD gulp in unwanted air - especially if the 'stat is only partially opened and the colant is not fully flowing

But - as I said before, whichever method works for you is fine - i just couldn't be bothered reinventing the wheel.

[haydn callow]

Dandy...Don't forget the bleed tube has a BIG funnel on the end with about 2 pints of coolant in it...In practise it is very easy to control the level of the coolant...In fact when you lower it the funnel fills up as coolant drains through from the header tank. When raised it goes back the other way to the tank.

[dandywarhol]

Ok - won't forget it

[Peg leg Pete]

I did fill just to the level and that is why the coolant needed a top up once cool. I agree with Haydn on using a funnel when see-sawing the bleed hose, have done my coolant change 3 times using this method and works a treat- as long as all caps, hoses, rad, stat are all sound To be honest looked at doing it how it shows in manual, first time I did a coolant change, but glad I used the see-saw method, like I said, each method works, just a matter of which one you feel comfortable with

[bigdaddycain]

This is all good info... Another query now along the same lines, what's your take on the coolant being a 50/50 mix? TBH i run a 35/40% mix of quality coolant. Is a 50/50 mix really that important in the uk's milder winter i wonder?