Cleaning coolant expansion chamber

[spout]

OK, next weekends chore is to flush and replace my coolant - along with the dreaded bleeding

But I've noticed my expansion chamber is too mucky to see through to check the level, so it seems like a good time to get it cleaned up.

Can it be cleaned in situ, with an additive before I drain? (Did I read on here about dishwasher tablets or steradent???????)
or do I have to remove it and use more manual means? or just stick it in the dishwasher?

Ta in advance......................

[bigdaddycain]

How do spout, i have heard that the tablets used for de-scaling kettles brings the bottles up a treat... Never used em myself, in fact i've not needed to clean the bottle thankfully

Give mike at wheelquick a ring to confirm the brand of the tablets...

(p.s Thats a very smart subtle looking machine you have there )

[haydn callow]

Believe me when I say......" I have had half a dozen tanks pass through my hands whilst developing the coolant alarm"....You cannot clean them once they are brown. The stain goes deep into the material. I have tried everything that has been suggested and a few more. Plastic kettle descaler you would think would be the best but "no".
The heavy brown stain is normally caused by a previous overheating event stirring up all the crud from the lower regions of the system.
Answer...Make a dipstick to check levels, try and locate a clean 2nd hand tank or fit a low coolant alarm which checks the level every time you switch on the ignition. Loads of info if you search the forum.
P.S. we did in fact cut up one stained tank and it was brown the full thickness of the plastic/

[Distilled Waters Run Deep]

I'm told that as it's alkaline staining it may be worth trying cola or (hot?) vinegar -haven't got around to it yet, the thought of getting tank out & coolant everywhere & maybe having to bleed it if I get it wrong... a dipstick sounds a good idea, Haydn. I trust your alarm, great kit & didn't take long to fit -& also have a Mason alarm -but like to peer every so often before I go out as well.

[haydn callow]

You must learn to trust that friendly "beep/flash" at start up. If the level was low it would let you know.
If it's just a layer of muck in the tank then..yes...somthing might work...but more likely it will be stained ...then it's a waste of time...been there done it. !!

[bigdaddycain]

Believe me when I say......" I have had half a dozen tanks pass through my hands whilst developing the coolant alarm"....You cannot clean them once they are brown. The stain goes deep into the material. I have tried everything that has been suggested and a few more. Plastic kettle descaler you would think would be the best but "no".
The heavy brown stain is normally caused by a previous overheating event stirring up all the crud from the lower regions of the system.
Answer...Make a dipstick to check levels, try and locate a clean 2nd hand tank or fit a low coolant alarm which checks the level every time you switch on the ignition. Loads of info if you search the forum.
P.S. we did in fact cut up one stained tank and it was brown the full thickness of the plastic/

Oh... Right... Scrap the descaling tablets suggestion then.

If the staining goes full depth of the plastic, it suggests to me that perhaps the composition of the plastic may have been compromised then? Anybody have one fail? or split at the seam under normal use?

I'm 99% certain mike said that those tablets "brought em up like new" Oh, well....

[mister munkey]

Someone must have a way of sorting this dilema

[bigdaddycain]

The one on the right looks like she could scare the staining away with one look!

[spout]

......it's a waste of time......

That's one less job to do then !

[haydn callow]

I don't think the heavy staining harms the plastic and I've never heard of a Bongo tank "splitting". The Delica Tanks do that for a pasttime after about 10 years.

[spout]

I've been off work today, and as it was so nice I brought forward the weekends chore and have changed the coolant.

There was some surface crud in the expansion chamber, but as Haydn suggested the plastic itself was fairly opaque. Looks like I'll have to get one of those alarm things

I followed the bleeding proceedure but my bottom hose took ages to finally warm up, and after an initial water loss through the bleeder (when I started the engine) very little came out at all, just a couple of burps. Coolant in the expansion only dropped about an inch (once btm hose warm).

So how do I really know it's been bled successfully?

[spout]

I've changed the coolant.

Forgot to mention. I followed the fact sheet which stated that the engine under cover had to come off. Taking it off and refitting (without a ramp etc) was by far the most time consuming part of the operation (other than waiting for the btm pipe to warm up ) as all the bolts were heavily rusted.
Why did it have to come off? Just to give better access for squeezing hoses?
Next time I do it, it's staying on.

...........I think.

[haydn callow]

I've never taken it off or squeezed a hose. Just feel the bottom hose to know when it gets hot.

[bigdaddycain]

Don't forget to check the level again later spout before you start the engine...you'll discover that the level is an inch or so lower than when you saw it last, maybe more, if so, that's more air that has been purged.

[spout]

Don't forget to check the level again later spout before you start the engine...you'll discover that the level is an inch or so lower than when you saw it last, maybe more, if so, that's more air that has been purged.

I shall be attepting this on Saturday: